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44 ^^^^^^e^^^^^g 



THE DRAFT RIOTS IN NEW YORK, 




JULY, 1863. 



THE 



METROPOLITAN POLICE: 



THEIR SERVICES DURIJNG RIOT WEEK. 



THEIR HONORABLE RECORD. 



V BY 



DAVID M . P. A Ti N E S 



NEW YORK: 

BAKER <fe GODWIN, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, 

PRINTING-HOUSE SQUARE, OPPOSITE CITT HALL. ||# 

1863. 



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THE DRAIT RIOTS IN NEW YORK. 

JULY, 1863. 



-*^^ 



THE 



METROPOLITAN POLICE: 



THEIR SERVICES DURING RIOT WEEK. 



THEIR HONORABLE RECORD, 



BY 



DAYID M. BAENES 



NEW YORK: 

BAKER 4 GODWIN, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, 

PRINTINO-BOUBE SQUARE, OPPOSITE CITY HALL. 

1863. 



fiz.'S 



.f4 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by 

DAVID M. BARNES, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. 



To the Board of Police Commissioners — Messrs. Acton and 
Bergen — Superintendent, Inspectors, and the Officers and Mem- 
bers of the Metropolitan Police of the Citj of New York, this 
compilation is respectfully inscribed. It affords Historical 
Becord of the excellence of the organization, of its fidelity, 
bravery, and efficiency. 

DAYID M. BAE:N^ES. 

New Yoek, Sept., 1863. 



F»REFA.TOIlY. 



♦ ♦*■ 



The following compilation is a record of facts relating to the opera- 
tions of the Police during the memorable " Riot Week," embracing an 
a,ccount of the riots, and scenes and incidents connected therewith. 
The articles were prepared for the New York Times, and are reprinted 
nearly as therein appearing. 

The riots commenced on Monday morning, July 13, and were not 
entirely suppressed until the following Friday. The only protection 
the city had, on the outbreak, was the Metropolitan Police, — all the regu- 
larly organized militia regiments being off in the service of the Govern- 
ment. 

The riot which commenced on the first day of the Draft was osten- 
sibly in opposition to it, but early took the character of an outbreak for 
the purposes of pillage, and also of outrage upon the colored population. 
For the first three days business in the city was almost entirely suspend- 
ed, the railroads and omnibuses ceased running, the stores on Broadway, 
the avenues, and throughout the greater portion of the city were closed, 
and prowling gangs of ruffians rendered it unsafe to walk the streets. 

The services of the Metropolitan Police, officers and men, during 
Riot Week, won for them the admiration and confidence of the com- 
munity. Never did men meet an emergency so fearful with more 
promptness, unanimity, and courage, and never was hazardous and pro- 
longed duty discharged with more willingness and fidelity. There was 
no flinching or faltering in any quarter, and to their courageous and 
unaided efforts on Monday and Tuesday can be attributed the safety of 
the more valuable portions of the city. The riot broke upon them un- 



6 PREFATORY. 

expectedly, and when they were the only force to meet it ; rallying on 
sudden warning, they did meet it, and, by their well-concerted action, 
their speedy movements, and their determined assaults upon the mobs 
in the different localities, they gave the rioters no time to correctly 
estimate their own strength or properly estimate the weakness, at the 
time, of the authorities. Had it not been for this, there is scarce a 
doubt that the greater excesses which were in contemplation, the raid 
into the lower portions of the city, the pillaging visit to Wall Street 
and the Government buildings, would have been consummated, and a 
period of destruction, plunder, and carnage have ensued to an extent most 
fearful, and to which what did occur would have been as nothing. 

On Tuesday afternoon the police were strengthened by the military, 
and then commenced exemplary work with the rioters ; on all but two 
or three occasions the military fired directly into the mobs, and with 
deadly effect. The number killed by the police and the military in the 
different conflicts, when alone and united, can never be ascertained ; it 
is estimated by those who witnessed the terrible scenes, and have the 
best opportunity of judging, at from four hundred to five hundred. The 
bodies of those killed on the spot were hurriedly taken off, and, in many 
cases, conveyed out of the city, or secreted here and privately buried. 
Cases of subsequent deaths from wounds, it is known, were attributed to 
other causes. Eighteen persons are known to have been killed by the 
rioters, eleven of whom were colored. 

The number of buildings burned by the mob, from Monday morning 
until Wednesday morning, was over fifty, — among them the Colored 
Orphan Asylum, two Police Stations, three Provost Marshal's Offices, 
and an entire block of dwellings on Broadway. 

A large number of stores and dwellings were sacked, though not 
burned, and their contents destroyed or carried away. The aggregate 
amount of property destroyed and stolen amounts to upwards of one 
million two hundred thousand dollars. 



THE METROPOLITAN POLICE. 



Tlieir Services during the Riot AVeek, 

JULY, 1863. 



THEIR HONORABLE RECORD. 



The acts of the Inspectors, a record of which follows, and their com- 
mands, were all conducted under the direction of the Police Commis- 
sioners. The legal organization of the Board invests the Superintendent 
with the command of the force, the Commissioners acting in an admin- 
istrative capacity. In the absence of the Superintendent the command 
is assigned to the President of the Board, and thus the duties of Mr. 
Kennedy, who early on Monday morning was disabled by the rioters, 
were assumed by 

COMMISSIONER THOMAS C. ACTON 

with the promptness, intelligence, and energy which characterize him. 
The labor during the first four days was immense, and some estimate of 
it may be formed by the fact that, in the telegraphic department alone, 
there were upward oifour thousand dispatches received and orders sent, 
all of which, with but few exceptions, required the personal supervision 
of Mr. AcTON. These, it must be remembered, were only a fraction of 
the many matters requiring his attention. He was not out of the office, 
save on official business, and then but briefly, during the first five days 
of the week — the duration of riot and its symptoms — and had no sleep 
from six o'clock Monday morning until two o'clock on Friday morning. 
He then lay down for the first time, getting two hours' rest. The posi- 
tion of affairs was one as important and as critical as that on a field of 
battle ; time of as much value ; sagacity and decision as necessary. Up- 
ward of two thousand men under his control, constant emergencies 



8 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

arising in all sections of the city, immediate action required on informa- 
tion received, and five minutes' delay leading to disaster, Commissioner 
Acton was equal to his situation, exhibiting wonderful powers of en- 
durance, and a coolness, activity, and vigor which on every occasion led 
to success; these were -the more noticeable from the fact that, as Su- 
perintendent ex-offi,cio, his post was a new and untried one, full of the 
gravest responsibilities. He assumed it suddenly, met all the trying 
emergencies promptly and sagaciously, won the confidence of the com- 
munity, and covered himself with honor by the results. 

Fortunately, between the military acting with them and the police 
entire unanimity prevailed, and orders wherein the two were required 
were obeyed with alacrity and with concert of feeling and purpose. It 
is worthy of note that every expedition — large and small there were 
over fifty — sent out by Commissioner Acton, whether of the police 
singly, or the military and police conjoined, was successful, beating and 
dispersing the mobs, and saving lives and property ; in short, fully 
accomplishing the purposes for which they were dispatched. To Com- 
missioner Acton are our citizens indebted in a large degree for the 
prompt and successful assaults upon the rioters, and to his judicious and 
energetic action for their subsequent entire defeat and dispersion. 

In the discharge of the manifold duties at headquarters, 

COMMISSIONER JOHN G. BERGEN 

was prominent. His duties were no less responsible than those of Mr. 
Acton, and not unfrequently he relieved the latter in the disposition of 
the forces. He was almost constantly at headquarters during the 
period of tremor and excitement, and exhibited, to a marked degree, his 
peculiarities of coolness, prompt conclusions, and steady perseverance. 
He came through the trying labors, the wearying days and nights, fresh 
as at the outset, exhibiting a wonderful capacity to sustain fatigue. The 
principal responsibility resting upon Mr. Bergen was that of the care 
of Brooklyn, and to this his anxieties and energies were chiefly directed. 
How well he succeeded in its preservation from lawlessness is evidenced 
in the fact that, though there were many indications of serious disturb- 
ances thei-e, yet the police in that section, acting under his orders, were 
successful in all, but one single instance, in suppressing them. 

Mr. Bergen was indefatigable ; cautious and intelligent in all his 
acts, he added largely to the efficiency and strength of the Department, 
and contributed greatly to the successes which have won for it so much 
of honor. 

The force of Clerks at headquarters is about thirteen, and all of 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 9 

these were steadily employed during the riots, exhibiting a faithfulness 
to duty and willingness to assume it, however prolonged and heavy, 
which was most creditable. They were under the supervision of 

CHIEF CLERK SETII C. HAWLEY, 

whose duties were multifarious, constant, and wearying, and who, for a 
week from Monday, when the riot commenced, allowed himself no rest 
but that of one hour in the twenty-four. Having the supervision of the 
clerks and special patrolmen, the providing and issuing of arms, the 
execution of orders from the Commissioners, seeing to the wounded and 
providing for the refugees, disposing of the prisoners, and acting as 
commissary for over four thousand of police, military, and specials 
assembled at headquarters — these were only a portion of the multitud- 
inous duties he was called upon to assume. He performed an amount 
of work, satisfactorily and thoroughly, which would have staggered any 
man of less capacity and energy. He proved himself eminently adapted 
for his position, and was of invaluable service to the Commissioners and 
the public. 

THE NEW HEADQUARTERS 

deserve, in this connection, mention. Their advantage and capacity 
were thoroughly tested. From first to last, there were upward of two 
thousand policemen there, all the military, acting in conjunction with 
them, two thousand special patrolmen, colored refugees from the mob to 
the number of seven hundred, and hundreds of prisoners. All these 
had to be housed and fed in the building, and all were so housed and fed 
without confusion or discomfort. Had these headquarters not existed, 
and the old ones been in use, it would have been impossible to have 
afforded accommodations of any kind, and it is more than likely that all 
attempts to concentrate others than the police, or, if concentrated, to 
retain them, would have wholly failed. The wisdom of erecting the 
headquarters, which some have deemed an extravagance, has been fully 
demonstrated. 

SUPERINTENDENT JOHN A. KENNEDY. 

Although there had been, for a few days preceding the Riot Week, 
inklings of disturbance, there was nothing, save the report on Saturday 
afternoon that the Seventh Avenue Arsenal was to be attacked, which 
rendered necessary any other than the ordinary precaution of vigilance. 
The rumor in reference to the arsenal, slight as it was, induced the 



10 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Superintendent to send fifty men to guard it, with orders to remain until 
relieved. Subsequent events proved his wisdom, for this action pre- 
vented the earlier commencement of the riots and their more formidable 
character. It has been ascertained that there was a well concerted plan 
to sack the arsenal on Saturday or Sunday night, and to procure the 
arms and ammunition. Thus provided, the mob would have displayed 
a far more formidable front on Monday, and more steadily, boldly, and 
bloodily defied the attempts to subdue it. 

Until Monday after 7 A. M. Mr. Kennedy heard nothing, beyond the 
rumor on which he had so promptly acted, which excited any appre- 
hension. About that hour, however, he snuffed riot in the fact commu- 
nicated to him that the Street Contractor's men in the Nineteenth Ward 
were not at work. His first thought, as it was draft day in some dis- 
tricts, was for the safety of Provost Marshal Manierre's office. No. 1190 
Broadway, and Marshal Jenkins' office, Forty-sixth Street and Third 
Avenue, and he accordingly telegraphed to several of the upper precincts 
for detachments of men to report forthwith to Captain Porter, of the 
Nineteenth, for protection of Jenkins' office, and dispatched another 
force to report to Captain Speight, of the Twenty-ninth, for duty at 
Manierre's office. Meantime further rumors of riotous disposition had 
reached him, and he promptly issued orders to the different precincts 
to immediately assemble their reserve force. When it is remembered 
that this is half the entire force, and the men, going off duty at 6 A. M., 
are scattered here, there, and everywhere, the labor devolved on the 
officers of the different precincts can well be imagined. The force gath- 
ered in strength, however, at headquarters, during the afternoon. 

Superintendent Kennedy, having dispatched more men to Captain 
Speight, and perfected, so far as was then deemed necessary, every 
arrangement, started about 10 A. M. on a tour for personal inspection 
of the districts reported infected. Visiting Captain Speight and the 
Seventh Avenue Arsenal, and leaving directions for any emergency, he 
drove across town ; noticing a fire at Third Avenue and Forty -sixth 
Street, left his wagon and walked toward it. ^ The Superintendent was 
not in uniform, had no insignia of any kind, and was wholly unarmed. 
As he passed along Forty-sixth Street he observed that every face was 
radiant with gratification ; every person seemed to be highly pleased ; 
no evidences were exhibited of a disposition to riot, or to any mis- 
chievous conduct, when some one exclaimed : " There's Kennedy !" and 
to a query : " Which is him ?" he was pointed out. He took no notice 
of this, but, on being pushed violently against by a returned soldier, 
wheeled round and demanded what that was for ; received a violent blow 
in the face from one of the crowd suddenly gathering on him, which 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 11 

knocked him over and down an embankment some six feet hijrh. This 
was the signal for the cowardly fury of the mob, and down they rushed 
for him; instantly regaining his feet, he put himself to his speed across 
lots toward Forty-seventh Street, and had gained on his yelling, mania- 
cal pursuers ; had reached and ascended the embankment ; but foes, 
equally as cowardly and brutal, met him here ; the attack and pursuit 
had been seen from the opposite embankment, and with cool malignity 
a crowd awaited his coming ; he had but just gained the top of it, when a 
rush was made upon him, and a powerful blow sent him headlong back 
again, prostrate at the very feet of his original assailants. He felt 
throughout that his safety was in keeping his feet, and instantly was he 
again upon them, but too late for another run for life ; the mob, with its 
Forty-seventh Street reinforcement, closed on him with yells of exulta- 
tion, dealing upon him blows with fists and feet. One fellow, armed with a 
heavy club, made earnest and numerous efforts to dash his brains out ; 
but the Superintendent, having a careful eye to them and a quick one 
for the ruffian's movements, managed to keep his head " well in hand," 
dodge his blows, and all others aimed at that quarter, with wonderful 
dexterity. During this terrific ordeal some fifty blows on all parts of 
his body must have been received. In the swaying about of the mob 
and its victim, they had moved toward Lexington Avenue, and close to 
a wide mud-hole ; into this a tremendous blow behind the ear sent the 
Superintendent head foremost, with great violence ; here it was where 
his face, buried amid the mud and stones, received the terrible injuries 
which rendered him unrecognizable. Then arose a jubilant cheer, and 
the mob yelled, " Drown him ! drown him !" But the Superintendent 
proved that a plucky, determined man has nine lives as well as a cat. 
Marvelously enough, even now, he retained his consciousness, was once 
more promptly on his feet, and exhibited a neat bit of strategy and 
agility. The mud was too deep, the pond too wide, for the villains to 
enter in or pursue through ; they were on the Forty -sixth Street side ; 
the Superintendent took in the situation at a glance, and made straight 
across the pond for Lexington Avenue again ; this gave him, on reaching 
the other side, an advantageous start of his pursuers, who had to chase 
around the borders, and who, on seeing themselves thus outgeneraled, 
came after him with redoubled yells and execrations. They were too 
late, however. He reached, in advance, the Lexington Avenue embank- 
ment, sprung up it, and recognizing near by Mr. John Eaoan, a well- 
known and influential resident of the vicinity, exclaimed to him, " John 
Eagan, come here and save my life !" He was now covered with blood 
and mud, and unrecognizable. Eagan came promptly to his relief, and 
had influence enough to keep the mob back, who — Mr. Kennedy's 



12 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

strength now succumbing, and he presenting an appearance of having 
little if any life left — wei'e the more readily restrained because of their 
belief that " he was as good as a dead man." Mr. Eagan and one or 
two others secured a feed wagon, placed Mr. Kennedy in it, and at once 
conveyed him to headquarters. Mr. Eagan did not know for whom his 
powerful and disinterested effort had been made until after driving some 
distance from the scene. 

The unexpected arrival of Mr. Kennedy in such a condition created 
the most intense excitement and indignation. He was almost uncon- 
scious, his face fearfully bruised and cut, one eye entirely closed, lips 
swelled frightfully — in short, not John A. Kennedy's visage in any par- 
ticular — his hand cut with a knife, his body a mass of bruises, and his 
person covered with blood and mud. From headquarters, after sur- 
gical care, he was taken to the house of a friend, and so soon as a thorough 
examination showed that no bones were broken or internal injury sus- 
tained, he was, despite remonstrance, on his feet again, and on Thursday 
of the same week attending to duties at the office. He bears yet the 
scars of his encounter ; but as they are marks of honor, however incon- 
venient, he can patiently wear them till time wipes them off. 

Mr. Kennedy is sixty years of age, — a fact suggestive of the vile and 
cowardly character of his assailants, as well as of the iron constitution 
which has brought him through. Of his great self-possession and deter- 
mination, the facts detailed afford the evidence. 

Owing to the early injuries, as detailed, of Superintendent Kennedy, 
on Monday, the Department was deprived of his intelligent and ener- 
getic action, and the duties, under supervision of Commissioner Acton, 
to a great degree devolved upon 

INSPECTOR DANIEL CARPENTER. 

He was busily engaged in perfecting the orders issued by Mr. 
Kennedy when the latter was brought into headquarters bruised, bleed- 
ing, and unconscious. This was the first confirmation received there of 
formidable disturbance. With approval of Commissioner Acton, Mr. 
Carpenter at once telegraphed for the immediate massing of the en- 
tire force at headquarters. The orders were obeyed with alacrity, and 
by 3 o'clock P. M. a large number were assembled. The wisdom of 
this measure subsequent events fully proved. 

Further confirmation of the riot and its proportions meantime had 
reached headquarters, and the men were being rapidly organized, formed 
into companies, and put under different commanders. About 4 P. M. 
word was received that Mayor Opdyke's house, in Fifth Avenue, was 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 13 

being attacked. Inspector Carpenter at once took command of a force 
of two hundred. Before leaving he addressed his men, telling them they 
" had to meet and to put down a mob ; to take no prisoners ; to strike 
quick and strike hard." A speedy march was taken to and up Broadway, 
and when the force reached Bond Street a body of rioters was seen march- 
ing down and near to Amity. They bore a huge board banner, inscribed 
" No Draft," and desecrated the American flag by bearing it in their 
midst. The two forces sighted each other unexpectedly. The rioters 
fresh from the attempted sacking of Mayor Opdyke's house, had marched 
from Fourteenth Street down Broadway, armed with clubs, pitchforks 
iron bars, swords, and many with guns and pistols. Every colored man 
they met had been abused and mercilessly beaten. Terror seized pedes- 
trians and storekeepers ; the former hurried out of the way ; the latter 
hastily closed and barred doors and windows. Vehicles turned to the 
right and left, and to a thousand vile-visaged and lawless men the un- 
disputed right of way was surrendered. The intention of this gano-, 
openly avowed, was to enter the Lafarge House, where colored servants 
were employed, and do havoc to them and it. Most fortunately, police 
protection was at hand. Quick as thought, on the first glimpse of them, 
Inspector Carpenter gave the successive orders, just in front of the La- 
farge, *' By the right flank ! Company, front ! Double quick, charge !" 
and, with upraised clubs, in splendid order did they obey. Inspector Car- 
penter, with reckless but characteristic courage, was far ahead of his 
command, and, for a moment, among the mob single and alone. He had 
the first blow, drew the first blood, selecting for his victim a powerfully 
built ruffian, defiantly brandishing his club ; a terrific blow upon his 
head from the Inspector, and he was left to the attention of others, while 
Mr. Carpenter, with the men now beside him, went in for a literal ful- 
fillment of his order on leaving headquarters. The mob, bewildered at 
the sudden meeting, staggered at the outset by the d' 'ermined onset of 
the police, were unable to rally for effective fight. The clubs flew rapidly 
and surely upon devoted heads, a score lay prostrate upon the street, 
two were killed, the "No Draft" banner captured and destroyed, and 
the " Stars and Stripes " made prize of and carried in the ranks of those 
who, by word or deed, would never dishonor them. In five minutes the 
victory was complete, and the ruffians, save those who lay in the streets, 
dispersed in all directions, leaving strewn around weapons, villainous 
and of all descriptions. The contest was witnessed by thousands, cheers 
greeted the police on their charge, and after the fight they were renewed • 
with double earnestness. This was the first regular fight with the mob. 
The force did not know how many they were meeting, nor did they care ; 
and nobly was their courage vindicated. Inspector Carpentkji incurred 



14 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

a risk for which he might have paid the penalty of his life, and it is 
wonderful he did not ; but he escaped uninjured, and left record on heads 
and bodies which will be long borne and remembered. 

Immediately reforming his men, and cool as though naught had hap- 
pened, he marched to the Mayor's house, Fifth Avenue ; but finding all 
quiet, returned to headquarters. Reports of the fight on Broadway had 
reached there, and, on the appearance of himself and force with the cap- 
tured flag, they were greeted with enthusiastic cheers. 

The Inspector's rest here Avas but brief, for, at 8 P. M., it was reported 
that the Tribune Buildings were to be attacked. At once taking com- 
mand of two hundred men — one hundred from Brooklyn, under Inspec- 
tor Folk — he marched rapidly for and down Broadway, entering the 
Park just as the mob, which had been repulsed from the Tribune Build 
ino-s by the police of the lower precincts, were fleeing across it ; instantly 
divining the situation, he formed " company front," and swept the Park, 
to Printing-house Square, on the double-quick — the fleeing rioters, who 
were rushing from one punishment to another, receiving the clubs ter- 
ribly, and being knocked in all directions. The square at and around 
the Times office being entirely clear, Inspector Carpenter took up his 
quarters at the City Hall ; soon after he was weakened by the with- 
drawal of Inspector Folk and one hundred men, who were ordered to 
Brooklyn. A report reaching him that the negro shanties in Baxter 
Street were being fired, he detailed Capt. Jourdan, of the Sixth Pre- 
cinct, with a force, to visit that section, which he right bravely did, dis- 
persing crowds and preventing contemplated destruction. Subsequently 
word caine that negro dwellings were being sacked and burned in the 
Fourth Ward, in Dover Street and its vicinity. Fifty men were left to 
act in case of a renewed attack upon the Tribune Buildings, and with 
the balance Inspector Carpenter marched to the new scene of violence. 
He came, unawares, upon a large mob engaged in pillaging and firing 
dwellings, caught them on the double-quick, and administered terrible 
punishment. At four different places in this Ward were mobs at their 
work — burning, pillaging, and beating. Inspector Carpenter, with his 
force, marched from one to the other, making sudden onslaughts, dispers- 
ing the rioters, and extinguishing fires. In many cases the villains were 
chased into houses, and had to escape from the windows or receive un- 
sparingly the locust. » 

An incident occurred during these engagements which excited the ire 
and nerved still more the arm of the police. Three colored men had 
fled to the roof of a dwelling to escape the rioters, who subsequently 
fired it in the upper story. The flames, reaching the roof, drove the 
poor fellovjis from it, and when the police arrived they were seen sus- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 15 

pended against the side of the building, clinging to the gable-end. 
Every effort was made by Inspector Carpenter and his ijien to rescue 
them, but no ladders or means to do so could be procured, and becom- 
ing exhausted, they successively fell to the ground — one of them, whom 
the fire had reached, with his clothes in flames. Each one was badly in- 
jured, but all were placed in care and safety. 

After the effective work in the Fourth Ward, Inspector Carpknter 
returned with his gallant command to the City Hall ; he had scarcely 
reached there — it was now IIP. M. — ere word was received of a mob 
coming down Broadway for another attack upon the Tribune Buildings ; 
Mr. Cakpenter at once massed what of his force were left close to the 
east gate of the Park, facing three companies to the west, from which 
direction he knew the mob would come, and the balance to the east. 
They did come with yells, shouts, and dire intent. The force was con- 
cealed by the darkness, and, unsuspectingly, the rioters marched into the 
trap laid for them. They were some four hundred strong, and were al- 
lowed to get within one hundred yards ere Inspector Cakpentkr gave 
the orders, " Up, Guards, and at them !" Well and overwhelmingly was 
he obeyed, and against far greater numbers ; every man was knocked 
down who could be reached. The Park was strewn with the prostrate, 
the ranks broken, the mob fleeing, and the police were again masters of 
the situation. 

This ended, for Inspector Carpenter and his command, their duties 
for the night — constant and arduous, and most gallantly performed. He 
was relieved at midnight by Inspector Leonard and force, and returned 
with his men to headquarters. 

On Tuesday morning, at 6 o'clock, with two hundred and fifty men, 
Inspector Carpenter proceeded to Second Avenue ; on reaching it at 
Twenty-first Street the force M'ere met with groans and hooting, but by 
no assault, until passing the block between Thirty-second and Thirty- 
third Streets; here the rear of the force was suddenly assailed with 
showers of bricks, stones, and other missiles, from the roofs and win- 
dows of the adjoining houses ; several of the men were knocked down ; 
two were badly injured ; the Inspector instantly halted his command, 
and directed a force of fifty to storm the houses, enter to the roofs, and 
render liors du combat every one engaged in the assault. The order was 
obeyed with a cheer, the locked and barricaded doors broken in and 
forced, the premises entered, all resistants knocked down, the roofs 
reached, where were found a large number of the assailants. Here a 
hand-to-hand and desperate fight ensued, in which the ruffians were over- 
come and several fearfully punished ; many were left lying on the roofs, 
others fled through the scuttles only to receive the clubs of the officers 



16 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

in wait below, and those who escaped into the street were met by the re- 
serve, who administered severe retribution. The victory was complete, 
the houses thoroughly cleared, and the missiles cast from the roofs into 
the street. Reforming his force, march was made through the infected 
streets and avenues without meeting further opposition, and thence to 
headquarters at 1 P. M. The afternoon was here spent by the Inspector 
in attending to duties created by the emergency. 

At 9 P. M., receiving word of an attack being made on Brooks 
Brothers' clothing store, Catharine Street, with one hundred and fifty 
men he hastened to the scene, arriving too late to prevent the sacking, 
but taking an active part in the punishment and dispersion of the mob in 
and around the building. Thence leading his command through the sev- 
eral infested streets of that vicinity, they were cleared of all disturbers. 
While thus engaged, word came that a renewed attack upon the Tribune 
was anticipated, and forthwith he hastened to the Park ; here, finding the 
report was unfounded, but hearing that a mob had threatened the 
sugar-house on Leonard Street, and was then sacking negro houses in its 
vicinity, he immediately moved his command to that quarter, and coin- 
ing suddenly upon, charged the crowd while at their work of pillage, and 
routed them with many a broken skull ; thence a hurried march was 
made to York Street, where riotous demonstrations had been made, but 
the mob broke and dispersed as they appeared. Thus closed another 
night of unceasing and arduous duty performed by Inspector Carpenter 
and his well-worked men, and well-working men, 

Wednesday brought relief to the Inspector from out-door duty, but 
he was unceasingly engaged, day and night, at headquarters, in the mul- 
tifarious matters requiring attention. His thorough knowledge of the 
Department and its resources, his correct judgment and great decision of 
character, were of incalculable service to the Department and the 
public. 

On Thursday morning Inspector Carpenter was directed by Com- 
missioner Acton to accompany Capt, Putnam, of the regulars, with his 
command, through avenues and streets infected, and report condition. 
The centers of the riotous districts were visited. No indications of fur- 
ther disturbance existed, but every store was closed, people anxiously 
peering, as the military passed, from doors and windows. The Inspec- 
tor announced to all that the " reign of terror " was over and that they 
could resume their business with the assurance of being protected ; 
similar assurances were given to the railroad and omnibus companies in 
that section which had not resumed running. A halt was made at the 
Twenty-first Precinct Station-house, when Mr. Carpenter heard that two 
of the force, wounded, were secreted in a house in East- Forty -third 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 17 

Street, fearful of coming out. Capt. Putnam accompanied the Inspector 
to the premises where it was ascertained that the wounded men had 
been secreted, but, being furnished with citizens' clothes, had subse- 
quently escaped. 

A slow return was made from Forty-third Street, over the section 
so recently one of riot. Scouts were sent out by the Inspector on either 
side of the line of march, who brought back word of " all quiet," and 
at 1 P.M. headquarters were reached, Mr. Carpe.nter returning "all 
quiet" as the gratifying report. 

From that time until Saturday noon he was on duty at the office, not 
having, from Monday morning, but three hours at his own house. 

Thus closes the record of Inspector Cari'e.ntek during " Riot Week." 
On all occasions, and in all positions where intelligence, sagacity, and 
mianly courage were required, Inspector Cakpkni'kr evinced them. His 
duties and responsibilities were largely increased by the early injuries to 
Superintendent Kennedy, but he proved equal to all of them, and has 
added to his repute as an invaluable officer. On all occasions he was 
nobly seconded by the men under his command, and he refers with pride 
to their fidelity and effectiveness. i 

After confirmation of the riot reached headquarters, the utmost ac- 
tivity prevailed thare, and, uader supervision of Commissioner Acton, 
every effi^rt was made to rapidly gather the men. To organize them 
when gathered, put them under proper commands, prepare them for any 
emergency, and speed them to the different points where needed, was a 
work of unceasing labor. During the day and night of Monday, 

INSPECTOR GEORGE W. DILKS 

was incessantly occupied in aiding to do this, and brought to the work 
the advantage of a long and active experience in the Department, a 
quick appreciation of the necessities of the occasion, and an energy and 
zeal which never flagged. He was thus unceasingly engaged until 10 
o'clock A. M. of Tui'sday, when he was ordered to the command of two 
hundred men, and to march foithwith to the protection of the Wire Fac- 
tory at Twenty-second Street and Sacond Avenue [where some four 
thousand carbines were stored], which was reported as being attacked. 
A rapid march was made to Twenty-first Street, thence into the avenue. 
On wheeling into and up it, they encountered a mob, swelled to thou- 
sands. They had forced the factory, the arms were being taken out, and 
scores were already provided with them. Exultant over such plunder, 
the rioters greeted the appearance of the force with shouts of derision 
and defiance. For Inspector Dii.ks to throw his command upon such 



18 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

overwhelming numbers was full of hazard ; to retreat before them, full 
of danjTer. Not a moment was to be lost, and, instantly forming his 
men, he ordered a rapid charge. The mob, for a while, stood its ground, 
and hand-to-hand encounters ensued, of which the Inspector had his full 
share ; orders had been given to recapture all the stolen guns, and 
squads of the force charged for them at different points into the mob, * 
mowing their way in and back against weighty odds. The proportions 
and fierce character of this fight on the one hand, and the courage on 
the other, made it the severest encounter of the week. The ground was 
strewn with men, on sidewalks, in the gutters, and on the street, bleed- 
ing and senseless. At last brute courage yielded to determined bravery 
and steady discipline. The mob, broken and terrified, fled, leaving In- 
spector DiLKS and his command masters of the ground. Thus ended 
the engagement " on the field," in which many of the force were injured, 
but not one faltered. 

To the factory now, which was filled with rioters, still pillaging it of 
arms and determined to defend it, instant attention was turned. Wheel- 
ing his men to the front. Inspector Dilks gave the orders to assault and 
tahe it. The entrance was forced, the stairs won step by step, and the 
building cleared, but only after savage and continuous fighting, in which 
serious punishment was inflicted by the police ; men laid throughout the 
factory, victims of their own lawlessness, and the bloody marks of the 
contest were on all parts of the building. Those who escaped from 
within ran the gauntlet of the force remaining in the street, and few, if 
any, got away unscathed. The punishment inflicted during these con- 
tests was terrible ; a physician dressed the wounds of twenty-one of 
the rioters, all on the head, and all of which he considered fatal. 

Having cleared the factory, taken what guns were found there, which,, 
with those recaptured in the street, made one for every man, and the 
mob not reappearing. Inspector Dilks returned with his force to head- 
quarters. On the way down with their trophies the command were re- 
peatedly cheered, and on reaching " home," at 3 P. M., the force there 
welcomed them most cordially. 

Half an hour after return, word was received that an attack was 
again being made upon the factory. Inspector Dilks at once took com- 
mand of another two hundred and, accompanied by Capt. Franklin's 
company of militar}^, returned to the scene, entering Second Avenue, as 
before, from Twenty-first Street. Here he discovered Capt. Helm and 
a small force of police, who had just visited the factory, securing some 
boxes of arms which had been overlooked. They were being closed in 
upon from all quarters by a fast-gathering and now intensely infuriated 
mob, against which they would have been powerless ; the timely relief 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 19 

was welcomed with heartiest cheers ; the mob, remembering the lessons 
of but a short time previous, made but a short fight, broke and 
fled. Capt. Helm's force joined Inspector Dilks' command ; a halt at 
and final searcli of the factory, for arms, were made, and march resumed, 
with the military now taking the right, down Twenty-second Street to 
First Avenue. From buildings along the route they were continuously 
stoned and fired at, making no response save in one instance : a man 
stood at a window, upraising a huge rock, and just on the point of hurl- 
ing it into the ranks ; he was instantly shot, — the ball entering his head 
and he falling dead. On wheeling into First Avenue, a large body of 
rioters, toward Twenty-first Street, suddenly assailed them, rapidly firing 
upon them and making the air thick with the hurling stones and other 
missiles ; so obstinate and determinedly continued was this attack that 
Capt. Franklin, filing his men across and facing down the avenue, 
warned the rioters to disperse or he should fire upon them ; they an- 
swered with shouts of defiance and renewed the attack ; the word was 
then given, and several volleys were fired with terrible effect ; the crowd 
fell back, the two forces following, the military firing as they advanced. 

At Twenty-first Street, the mob, panic-stricken at the slaughter in 
their ranks, fled. A countermarch was made to Twenty-second Street, 
thence to Second Avenue and to Twenty-first. Reaching here, the forces 
were again assailed, receiving a volley from the First Avenue, where the 
mob, well armed, had speedily reassembled. Capt. Franklin instantly 
wheeled and faced his men to meet this unexpected attack, giving imme- 
diate orders to fire. The mob, a block oflf, stood several discharges, 
boldly returning them, but at length and after more slaughter, broke 
and fled. 

During this engagement the Inspector had many narrow escapes, 
one especially so — a Minnie ball striking close to his head and cutting off" 
a tree branch bending near him. 

A huge, powerfully built man was noticed at the head of the mob, 
leaping into the air, wildly swinging his arms and shaking his fists, 
evidently one of the ringleaders, crazy for riot and blood. He was 
singled out, received a shot in the forehead, and fell dead. Another, 
who had boldly ventured away from his comrades and advance d up 
Twenty-first Street, stood gritting his teeth, shaking his fists at and curs- 
ing the soldiers, ceasing this only to shout encouragement to the rioters. 
He literally exhibited demoniac rage. He was picked out, shot, and fell 
dead in the midst of his threats and imprecations. 

This was the last contest in which Inspector Dilks and his command 
were engaged on that day, and their position throughout was a trying 
one. On the march through Twenty-second Street they acted as skir- 



20 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

mishers, doing bold duty and incurring great risks. On both occasions 
when the military took the offensive they were brought to a halt, the 
balls and missiles from the mob whistling over and among them, with- 
out the opportunity of assault or defence ; steady courage was required to 
endure this. No serious injuries were sustained by the men, and the mob 
appearing to be entirely dispersed, headquarters "were returned to, the 
party received with cheers, and Capt. Helm's trophies deposited. 

All that night, and until Wednesday evening. Inspector Dilks was 
incessantly on duty at the headquarters. At dusk, on Wednesday, with 
another force of two hundred, accompanied by Capt. Putnam's regulars, 
the infected district was visited, and a tour through Second and Third 
Avenues and the intervening streets, from Seventeenth to Twenty-second, 
was made. First Avenue, from Eighteenth to Twenty-first, was filled 
with excited people, and there was almost uninterrupted skirmishing 
the entire distance. Both from the streets and the houses were the mili- 
tary and police fired at, while missiles fell among them thick and fast; 
two of the force were shot, though not seriously, and numbers were 
struck with bricks and stones. They advanced slowly and steadily, 
clearing the street before them, — Inspector Dilks, whenever occasion re- 
quired, making a charge, in some cases having sharp fighting, and pre- 
venting any formidable gathering; the military fired but a few shots, 
and before the tour was completed the mob had wholly dispersed. 
Returning to headquarters. Inspector Dilks was occupied in duties there 
until after midnight, when, for the first time since Monday morning, he 
took rest and sleep. Subsequently, and until quiet was restored, he was 
on constant duty, but not again " in the field." 

Throughout all the exciting scenes narrated, the courage, coolness 
and decision of the Inspector were prominent; there w-ere no duties in 
which he did not share, no dangers in which he did not lead. He had 
true and brave men to sustain him, and how zealously, unflinchingly they 
did so, the record tells. 

Of course it is understood that, in the duties performed and in the 
dangers incurred by the different Inspectors, the forces under their com- 
mand share equally with them in whatever of honor is attached. This 
the Inspectors themselves claim ; they know that to the bravery of their 
offio"!rs and men, to their eager and constant devotion to duty, are their 
succ 'sses and honors attributable. Each one of them admits this en- 
thusiastically, and none more so than 

INSPECTOR JAMES LEONARD. 

Inspector Leonard was on duty at headquarters on Monday when 
Sup 'rintendent Kennedy was brought in. After Inspector Carpenter 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY," 1863. 21 

left with his command, acting under orders from Commissioner Acton 
he was incessantly occupied in massing at headquarters what of the force 
had not been assembled, and in organizing them. At 9 o'clock P. M. 
rumors of a mob coming down Broadway were received. Taking com- 
mand of a force, Inspector Leonard marched to Broadway, met them at 
Bond Street — near the scene of Inspector Carpenter's afternoon victory 
— charged upon them, and, after a brief but severe " little fight," broke, 
punished and dispersed them. Returning to headquarters, he resumed 
duties there until midnight, when he was ordered, with a force of 350 
men, to repair to the City Hall and relieve Inspector Carpenter, 
While here his work was constant. Acting on information received, he 
sent forces to Leonard and York Streets, to protect the negroes there, 
and punish the prowling gangs threatening them. This duty was thor- 
oughly performed, and was the means of saving lives, limbs, and prop- 
erty also. He detailed a force to protect a provision store in Greenwich 
Street, near Cortlandt, which he learned had been broken open and was 
being sacked. The mob was attacked, beaten, and dispersed, and much 
propei'ty saved. More of his force was sent to Brooks Brothers' cloth- 
ing store to aid in its defence. Portions were detailed to protect the 
hotels in Fulton and Cortlandt Streets, threatened by mobs, the proprie- 
tors of which had applied for aid. Toward morning, he received word 
that a mob was marching to Fulton Ferry to meet the boats and prevent 
the landing of marines expected from the Navy Yard, and that they also 
designed burning Fulton Market, from the occupants of which a gang, 
attempting to kill a negro on the previous day, received severe punish- 
ment. Instantly Inspector Leonard sent off a force to defeat their pur- 
poses. They met the mob — a formidable one — charged upon it with 
determined energy, and drove it in all directions. 

It was now daylight, and Inspector Leonard, who had reached th.e 
Hall with 350 men, had sent off, in obedience to telegraphs from head- 
quarters, so many detachments to divers sections that, by 9 o'clock A. M. 
of Tuesday, he found himself without a man, and was left alone in his 
glory. 'Twas quite evident that at headquarters his resources were 
thought equal to his energy and fidelity, for, at that hour, another order 
came for another detachment. Being the only detachment left, he per- 
sonally reported himself as such at headquarters. Representing to Com- 
missioner Acton the necessity for continuing a strong force in the neigh- 
borhood of Printing-house Square, he was ordered to the command of 200 
men, and with them hurried back to the City Hall. Upon the square 
and in the Park were thousands of riotously disposed persons, and the 
evidences of violence were gathering apace ; every unfortunate negro 
who appeared was chased and beaten, inflammatory speeches were being 



22 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

made, and threats openly uttered. All these had increased at noon to 
such an extent that, taking 100 men, Mr. Leonakd swept the Park and 
square, clearing them of the dangerous material ; considerable opposi- 
tion was received, but, with the small force of brave spirits, the work 
was done quickly and thoroughly. Several times, during the day, had 
he to disperse the gatherings in these sections, and, by his discretion and 
firmness, undoubtedly saved a serious demonstration. At eight o'clock 
in the evening, a company of regulars, just arrived, were being followed 
up Broadway by a hooting, yelling mob, who were besliming and en- 
deavoring to intimidate them. A plan to assault them and prevent 
their aiding the authorities was evidently perfecting. Inspector Leonard, 
accompanied by Sergeant Pollt, of the Eleventh Precinct, had met the 
mob as it passed the west entrance to the Park, and mingled with it 
until reaching Broadway and Chambers Street ; here danger of an attack 
by overwhelming numbers was imminent ; to save the soldiers was the 
first object, and to do that it was necessary to distract the attention of the 
mob from them. The plan adopted was one of boldness and hazard : a 
prominent ringleader was pointed out by the officer in command to In- 
spector Leonard, who forthwith seized him ; aided by Sergeant Polly 
and one patrolman, the fellow, offering violent resistance, was dragged/ 
into the Park and toward the City Hall ; meantime the rtise had had its 
intended effect ; the entire gang of demons, turning from the soldiers, 
rushed to the rescue of their leader ; on they came, three hundred against 
three, but these three determined men. " Kill them ! kill them ! We'll 
give you what we gave Kennedy," were their shouts, as surging on they 
sought to overthrow and rescue. Facing the infuriates with his prisoner 
in vice-like grasp, the firm front, the uplifted club, and the plainly speak- 
ing determination of Inspector Leonard to " do or die," bravely seconded 
as he was by his two associates, awed the mob from too close, too dan- 
gerous proximity. Once, however, a rush was made which threatened 
to overwhelm and crush them; well-directed, fearless and telling blows 
stunned and staggered back the foremost ; the prisoner, held in front, 
and used as a guard against the missiles and blows aimed at the ofllicers, 
was bleeding from the punishment received from friends as M^ell as foes. 
Thus, from the Chambers Street entrance to the one from Broadway, 
ever facing the crowd and keeping it to their front. Inspector Leonard 
and his aids succeeded in working their way. Here, and when it was 
indeed needed, help was at hand, for the mob, now fully realizing the 
disproportion of strength, were prej^aring for one final and overwhelming 
effort. Fortunately word had reached the City Hall, and seventy-five 
of the force came rushing to the rescue. The moment they joined him, 
the brawny prisoner, whom there was no intention to retain, and who 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 23 

had so well been used for the jiurposes of tlie ruse and the defence, was 
cast aside, worthless, bleeding; and in with the reinforcements the In- 
spector went for exemplary punishment to the mob. A hand-to-hand 
fight ensued, heads were broken, men prostrated and laid in heaps, and 
in less time than it is recorded, those who a few moments before were 
eager for and intent upon the lives of the three daring officers, were scat- 
tered like sheep before the gallant charge of the police, or lay as 
slaughtered. Inspector Leonard was boldly in the fray, his stalwart 
form being conspicuous, his rapid, earnestly meant and muscular blows 
falling with telling effect. 

This was the last of the exciting duties in which Inspector Leonard 
was engaged. He remained on duty at the Hall, however, until Friday, 
when, with his officers and men, he was recalled. During his command 
there he had rendered invaluable services to that section and the lower 
portion of the city. Constantly on the qui vive, sending out scouts and 
receiving prompt intimation of all designs there and thereabouts, he 
promptly met and defeated them. He had immense interests to guard; 
himself a host, his officers and men true as steel, they saved the 
districts committed to their care from the consummation of well-con- 
cocted plans of violence and pillage. Of active intelligence and proved 
courage, Inspector Leonard's name shines brightly on the record of 
honor. 

Although Brooklyn escaped scenes similar to those which disgraced 
and horrified New York, it was evident that the material was there to 
create them, and nothing but the firm front of 

INSPECTOR JOHN S. FOLK, 

cordially seconded by his command, and the military and civil authorities, 
prevented outbreaks. He received a dispatch at 10^ o'clock Monday, 
from headquarters New York, directing him to call in his reserve, and to 
hold them in immediate readiness. They were on drill at Fort Green 
at the time, and forthwith he ordered them to their respective precincts. 
At 5 o'clock P. M. a dispatch was received from Commissioner Ber- 
gen to send his whole force to New York, if, in the Inspector's opinion, 
it would be safe for them to leave Brooklyn. He did think it was safe, 
and as soon thereafter as headquarters could be reached reported him- 
self at Mulberry Street with upward of two hundred men. On consul- 
tation with Commissioners Acton and Bergen, it was thought best for 
him and his command to return to Brooklyn, to be ready for any emer- 
gency that might arise there. Before leaving, and about 8 P. M., word 
came of the demonstration on the Tribune Buildings, and Inspector 



24 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

!FoLK was ordered to join his force to that of Inspector Carpenter, ac 
company him as far as the Tribune Buildings and render what aid 
was required in dispersing the mob thereabouts. On reaching the Park, 
the mob — an account of whose flight from Printing-house Square, and 
reception in the Park by Mr. Carpenter's command, has been given — 
was severely dealt with by Inspector Folk and his command, who, be- 
ing on the left, had the last handling of the fleeing, and they made 
havoc, strewing the ground with them, right and left. Inspector Folk 
escaped a huge club by an adroit dodge, and laid the party wielding it 
low, only to incur another flying attack, which he met, evaded, and simi- 
larly ended. This duty over, and with cheers from Inspector Carpen- 
ter's force, Mr. Folk at once took up the march for Brooklyn. Reach- 
ing Fulton Fei'ry, he heard that but a short time before two negroes had 
been killed on the docks near by. Halting his command and taking a 
squad he made inspection of the vicinity, finding on a schooner two ne- 
groes, one with his head terribly cut and his arm broken the other only 
suffering from body bruises. Inspector Folk at once took measures to 
send the poor fellow most injured to the hospital. He tried to hire two 
hacks, offering the drivers to pay what they wanted, and to send a guard 
of police with them. One was unwilling to bloody his carriage, and 
drove hastily away ; the other " had a call," and as rapidly followed.. 
An omnibus at the ferry was then hailed, but the driver represented that 
it might endanger his life and the life of his passengers. The Inspector, 
seeing some justice in this, essayed elsewhere and secured a fish wagon. 
The wounded man was placed carefully in it, and sent oflT, under suffi- 
cient guard, to the hospital. This done, the force returned to Brooklyn, 
and reaching there was dismissed to the several precincts, with direc- 
tions to hold themselves in readiness on a moment's notice. 

From that time until Wednesday night nothing occurred of a seri- 
ous character. So well had Inspector Folk instructed his forces, and so 
efficiently had they obeyed, that the slightest lawless gatherings were 
met and dispersed by the different precinct police and no opportunity 
for any demonstration afforded. 

At about 11^ o'clock on Wednesday evening the elevators in the 
basin were fired, and to them at once Inspector Folk and his command 
hastened. Meeting an immense crowd of citizens and firemen near the 
scene, the latter opened as they came on the double-quick and gave them 
cheer on cheer as they hurried through. On reaching the immediate 
vicinity of the fire they were greeted with groans and hisses, but with no 
violence. 

The incendiaries, who were a gang of laborers, having escaped or 
mingled with the crowd there was nothing for the force to do. Inspec- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 25 

tor Folk remained with them in the vicinity, however, until 3 A. M. of 
the next morning, when they were dismissed to their several precincts. 

On Thursday and Friday the force was kept in constant readiness, 
but their services were not needed, and on the latter day they were dis- 
missed to their usual duties. 

It is well known that Inspector Folk is a man of lion heart, never 
knowing what fear is ; fertile in emergencies, and always in the advance 
where there is danger. His long experience as Chief of Police, and sub- 
sequently as Inspector, together with the characteristics mentioned, se- 
cured for him the confidence of " all Brooklyn," and the military and 
civil authorities were at his disposal. There was great trepidation in 
Brooklyn when he left, and feeling of security when he returned. His 
headquarters were at the City Hall, and from the Sheriff, Mayor, and 
military authorities, he was tendered all the co-operation he could de- 
sire. His force — Capt. Powers, of the Forty-fourth Precinct, a most 
valuable officer, being in command under him — were faithful, willing 
and constant to a man ; he cannot designate one who failed in the en- 
tire and cheerful discharge of duty. 

To Inspector Folk's excellent disposition of the small force at his 
command, to the prestige that his determined character had won, and his 
constant vigilance, Brooklyn owes its immunity from burning, sacking, 
pillage, and carnage, such as characterized its neighbor across the water. 

The most valuable aid to the promptness and efficiency of the action 
of the Commissioners and force during Riot Week was the 

TELEGRAPH BUREAU, 

composed of the following gentlemen : James Crowley, Superintendent ; 
Eldred Polhamus, Deputy Superintendent ; Messrs. CiiAs. L. Chapin, 
John A. K. Duvall, and James A. Lucas, Operators. 

This Bureau is considered the right arm of the Police Department, 
and certainly, during Riot Week, more than justified the estimation. 
The movements of the force, and of the military operating with them, 
were mainly guided by means of it, and too much credit cannot be 
awarded to those connected with the Bureau who devoted themselves so 
constantly to its laborious duties. Messrs. Crowley, Polhamus, Du- 
vall, and Lucas were, for four days and nights, constantly occupied, 
faithful and laborious, the latter only yielding when he was taken home 
vi et armis, by order of the Commissioners, because of being too ill to 
safely remain at his post ; Mr. Ciiapin also shared in the duties. 

There are thirty-two telegraphic stations in the city, all centralizing 
at headquarters ; they are divided into five sections — the north, east, 
south, west, and central. Some idea of the labor entailed, during the 



36 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

riots, upon the gentlemen named, can be had, when it is stated that 
in the first four days there were five thousand three hundred and seven 
dispatches received and sent from headquarters ; besides this, were a 
large number of telegraphs from one Precinct to another. The work in 
this Bureau for the four days exceeded that of the whole of any one 
month preceding. The inestimable value of the telegraph was never 
better evidenced than on this occasion, and the fidelity and efficiency of 
those in charge of it never so severely tested and so well proven. 

Mr. PoLHAMus was at the office early Monday of the outbreak, and 
was joined by Mr, Crowley about 11 A. M. At 9.20 A. M. the mob 
had cut down the poles on Third Avenue, and thus destroyed the wires 
in the north section, interrupting communication with the Precincts at 
Fort Washington, Manhattanville, Harlem, Yorkville, and Blooming- 
dale, as also with the Nineteenth Precinct. Fortunately, however, at 
an earlier hour, the operators had sent all necessary word to these Pre- 
cincts, so that the forces therefrom acted intelligently and Avithout fur- 
ther instruction. The rioters also cut down the poles in the First Ave- 
nue, between the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Precincts, and destroyed 
the wires in Twenty-second Street, in the vicinity of First, Second, and 
Third Avenues. Another mob cut down the poles in Ninth Avenue, be- 
tween the Twentieth and Twenty-second Precincts. 

This was the state of affiiirs with the telegraph on Monday evening, 
and Messrs. Crowley and Polhamus started out to repair lines and 
renew connection. The details of their operations it is not proper to 
give, but, by dint of disguises, ingenuity, and courage, they succeeded in 
reconnecting the lines over house-tops, through yards, and across streets, 
and restoring communication. While engaged in doing this they had 
repeatedly to mingle with the mob, appear to be part and parcel of them, 
and run a hazard which none but bold men, bent on a thorough discharge 
of duty, would have incurred. By Tuesday morning the work was com- 
pleted in the north section, and by Wednesday evening they had the • 
entire line in working order again. 

The rioters had cut down over sixty poles, using broadaxes, and 
leveling them close to the sidewalk ; six were cut down on the Third 
Avenue, thirty on the First, a number on Twenty-second Street, and 
twenty -four on Ninth Avenue ; upwards of twelve miles of wire was 
rendered useless. When it is remembered that Messrs. Crowley and 
Polhamus restored the line without the aid of a pole, and without being 
detected by the mob, though often in their midst and always in their 
immediate vicinity, the amount of their labor and the caution, ingenuity, 
and courage required can be estimated. 

The duty of these repairs, however, was not the only ones they were 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 27 

called on to perform, for it was their's also to accompany the police on 
sundry expeditions, and be prepared to reconstruct any communication 
which might be interrupted during conflicts or riots arising. The force 
bear willing testimony not only to their promptness in doing this, but 
to their readiness in " taking a hand in " when the use of the locust was 
necessary. 

Not a few incidents of interest occurred to Messrs. Crowley and 
PoLHAMUS during the four days, and we relate a few of them : 

On the Monday of the outbreak Mr. Crowley was on his way to 
town, from Yoikville, where he resides, on the Third Avenue cars. They 
were interrupted and stopped by the mob, and Mr. Crowley unsuspect- 
edly abdicated with others of the passengers. So soon as he got out, he 
discovered some of the mob cutting down a telegraph pole, and impul- 
sively hastened to prevent them. He w^as at once pointed out as "A" 

— we will not say what, but substitute a dash " operator," and seized ; 

some wanted to " smash him," some to kill him, and various equally 
pleasant propositions were made for his disposal. Quickly perceiving 
the state of affairs, he so demeaned himself as to disarm suspicion for a 
while, at least, and was kept a prisoner for over an hour in the mob, 
most of the time closely guarded, until, in some exciting demonstration 
made by them he was for the time forgotten, edged his way out, and 
betook himself, at a Flora Temple pace, to sections in which he was 
secure. Had he been known, there is no doubt but that the Bureau to- 
day would have been without his intelligent and valuable services. 

When on an expedition in Eoosevelt Street, with the police and mili- 
tary, Mr. PoLHAMUs had his boots burned off while working his way 
over the burning timbers of the fires, there, in order to discover the in- 
jury, if any, done to the wires. Here, too, himself and Mr. Crowley, 
both of whom were in citizen's dress, came near being clubbed to death 
by the police of the Seventeenth Ward, who took them for rioters, be- 
cause of their eager movements, and they were saved by the timely 
interference of Capt. Brower. 

It is a noticeable fact that the rioters, in their operations on the tele- 
graph, were destroying that which finds a large portion of its duty in 
restoring to them their lost children, wandering wives, sons, and brothers. 
During the evening that preceded the destruction, some thirteen of these 
were restored or their whereabouts reported. 

On Monday night Mr. Polhamus accompanied Inspector Carpenter 
to the Tribune Buildings, where such an exemplary punishment was ad- 
ministed to the mob. One of the force was shot while by his side, Mr. 
P. narrowly escaping the ball. 

Mr. Crowley, on hearing that the wires in the Ninth and Tenth 



28 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Avenues had been destroyed, hastened to repair them. On reaching the 
vicinity and seeing there a large mob, he hesitated, very properly, to go 
among it ; but seeing a carriage driving in its direction, in which was a 
well and justly-beloved Catholic priest, a good man and Christian, with 
whom he was acquainted, he hailed him and was taken in. On reaching 
Forty-second Street and Tenth Avenue the mob surrounded the carriage 
and its inmates, and, imagining (from their moral and exemplary appear- 
ance) that they were reporters, cried, " Down with the d — d reporters ! " 
&c., &c. Matters looked threatening enough until the good man — we 
refer now to the priest — made himself recognized, and under his recogni- 
tion Mr, Crowley escaped. 

On several occasions Messrs, Crowley and Polhamus took a hack 
and acted as its drivers, both seated on the box. Thus they visited the 
infected districts frequently, and brought back to headquarters valuable 
information. On one occasion, however, these amateur Jehus found 
themselves in a predicament. They had been up the Third Avenue, and 
were returning ; had reached Houston Street, and were hailed by some 
five of a prowling gang, who demanded that they should drive them 
down town. The Jehus were unarmed, and compliance was the better 
part of valor ; the route was along Houston Street, too, and once Mul- 
berry Street reached, the drivers were all safe and the inmates prisoners. 
So " Get in, boys !" was the response. They had not driven far, how- 
ever, before a counter drive was ordered, and, under indications of some 
four or five pistols, was complied with. Reaching an ale-house in the 
Tenth Ward, the party got out, declared Crowley and Polhamus to be 
" good boys," and not only entertained them with lemonade, but paid 
them fifty cents for the compulsory drive. The one was drank, the 
other received, and they left, — the party of outlaws impressed with the 
belief that they were as jolly and good-natured drivers as hack-stands 
can boast of. This occurred at 4^ o'clock Wednesday morning. 

On Tuesday morning, at three o'clock, Messrs. Crowley and Pol- 
hamus were coming down Third Avenue in a carriage. They passed 
Eighty-sixth Street and did not see a soul stirring ; before reaching 
Seventy-seventh Street the store on the corner of Eighty-sixth Street 
and the avenue was a mass of flames. The rioters and thieves must 
have been at w-ork as they drove by. 

While making an examination of the wires in the Second Avenue, 
Mr. Crowley was suspected by the mob, set upon, and only escaped 
severe usage by mingling in with them, and, to all appearances, being as 
ready for lawlessness and spoils as they. 

On the many trips of himself and Mr. Polhamus, their wagons 
broke down twice, — once in the immediate vicinity of a First-Avenue 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863 29 

mob. They were soon surrounded, and would have been killed had their 
identity been established. A plausible story of being Westchester farm- 
ers saved them, though a demand for money was not complied with. 

Among the obligations due from our citizens fur the prompt suppres- 
sion of the riot and their exemption from unprecedented excesses, those 
to the gentlemen named in this article are not the least. They proved 
themselves, those in the office and those whose duties called them from 
it, the former faithful, constant, unwearying, and the latter energetic and 
courageous, — accomplishing, through perils which few would voluntarily 
encounter, a work which, for the well-being of the city, was of the great- 
est importance. 

An invaluable portion of the Metropolitan Police at all times, and 
especially in such emergencies as arose during Riot Week, is the 

DETECTIVE FORCE, 

which is organized with John Young as Chief; M. B. Morsf, Clerk ; and 
the following force : Messrs. Bennett, McCord, Farley, Roach, Rad- 
ford, Smith, Slowey, Dttsenbury, Macdougal, Elder, Eustace, Wil- 
son, Kelso, Tieman, and Keefe. 

The requirements for a Detective are more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, shrewdness, and sagacity, and an unfailing supply of courage. The 
work performed by the force named, more than sustained any claims 
that might be made for the possession of these qualifications. 

Those of this force living up town had early indications of the riots. 
They mingled with the mob, ascertained their feelings and purposes, and, 
on this information, hastened to headquarters, giving information, on 
which many prompt, intelligent and effective movements weie based. 

The operations of this Department can only be spoken of generally, 
as it would be adverse to its efficiency to detail the many moves adopted 
by its members to perfect the duties upon which they were sent. But 
during the riots they were incessantly occupied, night and day, getting 
for four days and nights no rest, and being constantly on secret service 
or acting as scouts and guides for the military and police in their differ- 
ent dispositions. Chief Young, in reviewing the conduct of each indi- 
vidual member of his command, cannot name one who did not discharge 
his duty thoroughly, faithfully, and courageously. It must be remem- 
bered that it was theirs to go into the infected districts, penetrate to the 
very heart of the mob, and be where identification would have been fol- 
lowed by a horrible death. They went disguised in all ways, now as 
laborers and again as rioters, sometimes on horseback, sometimes driving 
hacks and carts, and often were part and parcel of the lawless. On sev- 



3© SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

eral occasions the members of the force were suspected as " Kennedy's 
spies," and nothing but a bold front, earnest denial, and prompt co-ope- 
ration with the mob, saved their lives. On many occasions, while 
walking through the riotous crowds, they would evade suspicion by 
going, as though on business, to dwellings, ringing the bells and enter- 
ing. On getting inside they explained the exigency and waited there 
till it had passed. 

The designed movements of the rioters toward the lower portion of 
the city were ascertained by the detectives, and the prompt information 
brought to headquarters enabled the Commissioners to meet and defeat 
them. 

Detective Slowey was the only one of the force injured. He was 
in the heart of the riotous district on the Second Avenue, and was identified 
and set upon. He made good fight, but was knocked down ahd badly 
beaten ; regaining his feet he managed to get on to the steps of a house, 
where he kept the gang at bay until the courageous lady occupying it 
opened the door and admitted him. He remained here until his howling 
assailants left and then again started on duty. 

The telegraph communications, as we have heretofore stated, were 
cut off in several directions, and the Detectives had to convey the many 
messages which the destruction interrupted. This duty involved the 
greatest risk of life, but was always promptly and successfully per- 
formed. 

During the sacking and burning of the different premises, portions 
of the Detectives were present, and, " spotting " the ringleaders would 
follow them afterward for hours, until they separated from their asso- 
ciates, and then pouncing upon them would run them into the nearest 
station-house. Thus many important arrests were made. 

On and after Tuesday, when the rioters took the shape of thieves^ 
the detective force made visits to the different " Lushing Cribs " in 
Eighth and Fourteenth Streets, some six places in all, and arrested about 
thirty noted burglars, thieves, and garroters, of this and other cities, who 
were on hand to reap a harvest. The rascals were locked up until the 
excitement was over, and by this much property was saved. 

At the fight at Pitt and Broome Streets, between the military and 
rioters, where the latter were so fearfully slaughtered, the Detectives 
were prominent, having notified headquarters of the mob and acted as 
guides for the military. It was the scene of the most exemplary punish- 
ment the mob during the four days received. But for the Detectives 
and their promptness on that occasion, there would have been riot and 
pillage in the very heart of the city. The mob which made the first 
attack on the Mayor's house. Fifth Avenue, was also accompanied by 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 31 

the Detectives, and word was conveyed by them to headquarters, which 
secured for the rioters the reception they had at Broadway and Amity 
Street by Inspector Carpenter and his command. In this fi»ht the De- 
tectives — only three were together at any time — took a hand and did 
great execution. 

During the riots this force was also occupied in givlno- information 
to the negroes in quarters threatened by the mob, and directing them 
where to find safety, in escorting citizens home through the infected dis- 
tricts, and in fact were ubiquitous and ever at work. One duty per- 
formed was visiting the different forts in the vicinity, and conveying 
orders to those in command of the forces there. After the riots were 
over the duty of the force did not cease, for they were engaged in dis- 
covering the whereabouts of the stolen goods, and in this their services 
have been of the utmost value, and by them an immense amount of 
property has been recovered. 

Although the Detective force was not in many of the fights, its duties 
as will readily be seen, were of the most important, constant, and peril- 
ous character. It has covered itself with honor, and our citizens will 
recognize in it one of the most valuable, faithful, and effective protectives 
to the peace of the city and individual security. Only numbering fif- 
teen, yet this force accomplished, successfully and bravely, an amount of 
work of which the mention made gives but a glimpse. 

Chief Young, who was busily engaged at headquarters during the 
riot, beside the direction of his command had the additional labor of 
"Commissary of Subsistence" for the police, military, specials, and 
refugees concentrated there. There were unitedly over 5,000 to be fed 
daily ; and so well did he manage that not one but who had an abund- 
ance of everything, and all of the best, without confusion or discomfort. 
Some 50,000 gallons of coffee were furnished during his commissaryship, 
and he mentions as an interesting fact that, among the thousands con- 
gregating at headquarters, not a single case occurred where a party was 
under the influence of liquor. Chief Young attributes this to the ever- 
ready and liberal supply of coffee, which was eagerly taken in preference 
to all other stimulants. He was efficiently aided, during the arduous 
days and nights, in this new branch of business, by Sergeant Lefferts 
and assistants, of the Fourth District Court, and Officer Webb, of the 
Superintendent's Office, both of whom were unwearying. 

The record of the Detective force affords no very thrilling incidents, 
notwithstanding theirs were duties of constant hazard and of vital im- 
portance to the public. Chief Young, whose fitness for his position has 
been fully manifested, intelligently directed their movements. He has 
fully proven his capacity for the important position he holds, and the 



32 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

detectives, guided by his intelligent and cool judgment, have made for 
themselves an honorable prominence and reputation. 

It is now proposed to speak of the several precincts, and the duties 
performed by the forces thereof From the details there will be an 
opportunity of judging of the amount of labor performed, and the 
fidelity which characterized the performance. The precincts will be 
taken in their numerical order : 



First Precinct 

Jacob B. Warlow, Captain, No. 29 Broad Street. On the morn- 
ing of Monday of Riot Week Capt. Warlow was ordered with his 
command to headquarters. He at once sent there one section under 
Roundsman Coxnoh, which participated in the defeat of the mob, 
in the afternoon, at Broadway and Amity Street. His entire command 
reported at headquarters toward evening, and were ordered on duty at 
the City Hall. Here about 8 o'clock Capt. Warlow received word that 
there was a riot in his own district and orders to quell it. Sergts, 
Cherry and McCleary started in advance of the force, and meeting a 
body of rioters in New Street were attacked, stoned, and badly beaten 
before Capt. Warlow and force could come to their rescue, they having 
^n route been detained by a demonstration made upon Downing's saloon, 
Broad Street. When the force did reach them, short work was made of 
the assailants. The command then repaired to its station-house, where 
a dispatch to proceed to the Tribune Buildings was received ; instantly 
off on double-quick, on reaching Nassau and Spruce Streets a charge was 
made upon the mob, which had already sacked and were setting fire to 
the office, and it was driven in all directions. During this attack upon 
the mob Officer Welling was shot in the right shoulder. The force 
remained in charge of the building till 10 P. M., when ordered to head- 
quarters, and were on duty there all night. 

Tuesday the First Precinct force were a portion of Inspector Carpen- 
ter's command on the visit to the Second Avenue, and participated in 
the duties and dangers of that hazardous tour. On return to headquar- 
ters, were again sent to the City Hall. At 2 P. M. thirty men were 
sent, under Sergeant Matthew, to report for duty to Capt. Bryan, of 
the Fourth Precinct, and subsequently assisted in repelling the attack on 
Brooks Brothers' clothing store ; this force remained in the Fourth 
Precinct until Saturday, pretty constantly engaged in dispersing crowds 
and saving persons and property. The balance of the force on Wednes- 
day had permanently returned to its own precinct. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 33 

Capt. Warlow awards to his men the highest praise as prompt, 
williii"', courageous, Sergt. Babcock, who was absent, on hearing of the 
riot, returned and reported for duty before expiration of leave. 

On the morning of the 14th, in Second Avenue, the fighting was 
very severe, gun and pistol shots and missiles of all kinds being hurled 
from the buildings on to the police. In the charge ordered by Inspector 
Carpenter into the houses, up and on to their roofs, the First Pre- 
cinct were prominent. To reach the rioters overhead was a perilous 
task ; the scuttles were narrow ; six determined men could have kept 
five hundred at bay ; but a portion of the force made a rush, and soon 
gained the roofs, where a hand-to-hand conflict ensued; in every in- 
stance the rioters were knocked senseless ; others searched the rooms. 
Kioters in their fright dropped from second and third story windows, 
some escaping unharmed, others receiving fearful injuries. 

Four of the rioters fled into a yard, and took shelter in an out-house. 
They were well armed, and how to get them out was the question. As- 
sailing their shelter would be certain death. At length an ingenious 
plan was adopted to dislodge them. A large coping-stone, from the 
roof of the house overtopping it, was dropped on the out-house, demol- 
ishing one side and uncovering the refugees, who on the instant were 
assailed by the police in waiting, and rendered powerless for good or 
evil. During this exciting and terrible fight Capt. Warlow was struck 
on the foot with a stone, and two of his toes mashed badly, but he contin- 
ued, thus crippled, on duty. 

On the evening of the 14th, when Brooks Brothers' clothing store 
was attacked, and thirty of this precinct served in its defence, all the 
street lamps in the vicinity were turned out, and the lights in all the ad- 
jacent houses were extinguished. The night was very dark. The charge 
of the police upon the mob was met by a volley of musketry, stones, 
bricks, &c., from all directions. Brooks Bkothers' store had been 
lighted up by the rioters so as to enable them to select and carry off" the 
most valuable of the goods. When in front of the building, Sergt. Mat- 
thew, with his men, of the First Precinct, charged into the store, and 
attacked the rioters. Then commenced a scene which is indescribable. 
The thieves attempted to rush through the police and escape. Some fidl 
upon their knees before the uplifted clubs, shrieking for mercy, while the 
others wildly rushed in search of ways for safe exit. On the second story, 
however, the rioters showed fight ; but the police, making a determined 
charge, soon drove them into the rear building, where the majority of 
them, with most of their spoils, were kept, and ultimately secured. 

The appearance of the officers was hailed with terror by most of the 
lawless. Some jumped down stairs at one leap, while others were saved 
3 



34 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

the trouble of a similar agile performance by the application of the locust. 
Those rioters who were driven outside the building were attended to by 
the reserves of the Third and Fourth Precincts, who drove them, with 
terrible punishment, down Catharine and through Cherry Street. 

Officer Van Ranst, of the First Precinct, received a pistol ball in his 
cap, where it lodged, and was found by him the next morning. Had he 
been but a little taller the bullet would have pierced his brain. 

At the time the Sergeants were beaten in New Street, Mr. Cherrt 
had a negro under his protection, whom he ultimately succeeded ia 
saving. 

One of the rioters, a tall, powerful fellow, at Bkooks Brothers' store,, 
made savage fight. Two of the police of the First Precinct found it 
necessary for their own safety to quiet him. It was the alternative of 
their lives or his. He had loaded himself with plunder, and only dropped 
it to make fight with them. 

After the force of the First Precinct had been returned to their sta- 
tion-house, they were engaged in recovering stolen goods, visiting the 
tenement houses in Cherry and Market Streets, and recovered several 
wagon loads of property. 

The record of this precinct is an honorable one, and the Captain, his 
officers, and men never once failed in an entire and thorough discharge 
of their duty. 

Second Precinct. 

On Monday the force of the Second Precinct, No. 49 Beekman Street, 
Capt. Squires, were kept in the ward because of the many riotous 
demonstrations at and around Printing-house Square. 

The beginning of the disturbances in this precinct was in South 
Street, where a gang attacked a negro sailor. He was rescued by Offi- 
cers Waters and Gillen, after much difficulty ; who also ai'rested several 
of his assailants. All the hotels and restaurants in that section having 
colored help were threatened, and by noon a large crowd had gathered 
in Park Row. Every car and omnibus was searched for colored people, 
and any discovered were set upon and beaten. The whole force were en- 
gaged in preventing these assaults. Sergeant Cornwell, with a section 
of men, was active in rescuing the unfortunate victims, and, with his 
force, was the means of saving many from savage, and probably fatal, 
usage. In this duty they incurred the jeers and abuse of the mob, but 
had no collision. 

During the absence of the force. Sergeant Esterbrook, with one 
man, was left in charge of the station. A number of colored people had 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY. 1863, 35 

fled to it for protection, and the mob paid it a visit, intending to seize 
them and fire the building. The Sergeant and his aid boldly met them, 
threatening to shoot the first one who attempted to enter. Their bold 
front kept the mob at bay until reinforcements arrived, before whom the 
rioters scattered. In the afternoon Sergeant Kelly, with a platoon of 
men, dispersed gatherings in the Park. In the evening a portion of the 
force patrolled the precinct, the balance being held in reserve at the sta. 
tion. Sergeant Snodgrass, in citizen's dress, mingled among the mob at 
the Tribune Buildings, and ascertaining that the design was to fire it, 
hurried back to the station, and. in command of the reserve, returned to 
the scene, joining in the successful assault upon the mob. Sergeants Es- 
TERBROOK and CoRNWELL also participated in this, Sergeant Kelly re- 
maining in charge of the precinct. Much hard patrol duty was done by 
the force the balance of the night. 

During the evening one section, under Sergeant Snodgrass, was 
transferred to headquarters, and, on Tuesday, paiticipated in the attack 
by Inspector Carpenter's command upon the houses in Second Avenue, 
near Twenty-second Sti'eet, and in the subsequent encounters in that sec- 
tion. On the occasion of the storming of the houses, Officers Watson 
and Cole entered into rivalry to see who would first reach the roof of a 
building from which the rioters had been especially annoying. They 
reached the scuttle together, but it being only large enough to pass one 
at a time, Watson edged through and won the first honors. He was 
forthwith attacked by a rioter armed with a bar of iron, who made a 
lunge at his head ; he dodged and escaped, but so violently had the fel- 
low struck, that on missing his mark he lost his balance, and would have 
fallen to the street but for a blow from Watson's club, which knocked 
him back and sent him reeling down upon the roof. Officer Cole, al- 
though behind Watson on the roof, was not a whit behind him, when 
thv'.re, ill coui-aga and execution. He was instantly encountered by the 
riotiMS, but his counige and coolness stood him well in hand. All the 
force of this precinct pres^'ut on this occasion were actively engaged 
and exhibited the utmost courage. 

On retui-n to headquarters, the platoon was transferred to Capt. 
Lord's command, on guaid duty, where it remained, doing valuable 
duty, u!itil Saturday, when it was ordered to its own quarters. 

Besides the services mentioned, one section of this precinct was 
detailed for duty on the river, which was vigilantly performed. 

On Monday, Sergt. Snodgrass notified headquarters of an intended 
attack on the Fifth-avenue Hotel — getting his information from the mob 
up Broadway. It was thus anticipated and pi'cvented. 

The otlicers and men of this precinct did thoroughly all they were 



36 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

called upon to do, and there was no instance of hesitancy or want of 
nerve among them. 

Third Precinct. 

The force of the Third Precinct, No. 160 Chalnbers Street, Capt. 
Greer, repaired, at 5 P. M. on Monday, to headquarters, Sergts. Finney, 
Robinson, and Webb accompanying ; at 6 P. M., with Inspector Car- 
penter's command, marched to the Park, and took a hand in the punish- 
ment of the rioters who were fleeing after their defeat at the Tribune 
Buildings. On the same evening they were with Inspector Carpenter in 
the tour through the Fourth Ward, thence proceeding to headquarters, 
where they were held in reserve all night. 

On Tuesday, on duty with Inspector Carpenter's command in the 
hazardous visit to Second Avenue and tour through the infected vicinity 
thereof, and then were ordered to Inspector Leonard's command at the 
City Hall. Sergt. Finney, with twenty-five of the force, was sent by the 
Inspector to Capt. Bryan, of the Fourth, to assist in suppressing the riot 
at Brooks Brothers' clothing store. This done, and they returned, the 
whole force being held in reserve at the City Hall until Wednesday 
night. Meantime, however, detachments were constantly being sent on 
duty ; in the afternoon, to protect Stuart's sugar refinery, at Chambers 
and Greenwich Streets ; then to suppress a disturbance at Pier No. 4, 
North River, which they did, dispersing the rioters; and again to the re- 
finery. 

Each duty was well performed ; numerous growing disturbances 
were checked. From Thursday morning the force was held in reserve 
at its own station until Saturday, when it resumed ordinary patrol duty; 
meantime, however, Capt. Greer had been keeping scouting parties out, 
who thoroughly worked the entire precinct. 

During the tour through the Fourth Ward Sergeant Robinson was 
attacked by a tall, powerful fellow, who aimed a blow at his head with a 
cooper's adze. He evaded this, and with a well directed return from his 
club knocked the rascal senseless. 

At the assault on the houses on Second Avenue, from which the 
rioters had been firing and hurling missiles, Sergeant Robinson called 
on the men of the Third to follow him, and charged upon a porter-house 
from which much injury had been inflicted. He was followed by Ser- 
geant Finney, Roundsman Farrell, and others, forced an entrance; drove 
the gang inside up on to the roof or out of the windows. One escaped 
by jumping from the second-story window; another fell from the roof 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 37 

and was badly injured. The house was speedily cleared and all who 
could be got hold of were severely punished. 

It was about this time that Col. O'Brien came up with his command, 
the police giving him the front. He unlimbered his pieces, notified the 
mob in the street to disperse, and after waiting for them to do so a suffi- 
cient time, fired ; he had elevated his guns so as to shoot over the heads 
of the crowd, giving as his reason that he did not want to hurt them if 
scaring would do as well. He was fiendishly murdered soon after. 

Whe.n ordered to aid in saving Brooks Brothers' store, Sergt. 
Finney took his men all the way on the double-quick. After reaching 
there, upwards of a hundred shots were fired by the rioters ; Sergt. 
Finney was wounded in the face, and Roundsman Farrell took com- 
mand during the balance of the conflict, which was short and decisive, 
the Third doing bravely. Roundsman Farrell (it was a close fight 
at Brooks') broke his club on the first blow, and then used his pistol. 
Many of the rioters, finding themselves beaten, fell on their knees and 
begged for mercy ; others jumped from the lower floors of the store, 
and others rushed against locked and barred doors, hoping to burst them 
open and escape. They paid heavily for that night's transgression. 

The force, after this duty, were returned to the City Hall at 10 P. M. 
Sergt. Robinson was ordered by Inspector Leonard to take charge of 
Printing-house Square, which he did, with fifteen men of his precinct. 
All was quiet there until two o'clock A. M. of Tuesday, when a gang of 
rioters appeared, and threatened the Times and Tribune Buildings. A 
banner carried by them was inscribed, " We'll hang old Greeley on a 
sour-apple tree," and this line they were singing. Before they could 
know who assailed them Sergt. Robinson, with his little force, made a 
charge and gave them a shower of locust. They fled, feeling, if not 
singing, a different tune from the one to which they had adapted the line 
quoted. 

An hour later, Sergt. Robinson detected a man prowling around the 
Tribune office; questions only begot from him evasive answers; he was 
arrested, searched, and a revolver, full-cocked, with two barrels dis- 
charged, found on him. He proved to be James Fitzgerron, was 
locked up, and next morning committed in default of $500 bail. 

The scouting parties sent out by Capt. Greer were of great service 
in his precinct — during the period of the excitement all acts of pillage 
being prevented. 

On Thursday, at 5 P. M., while Sergt. Robinson was at the Hudson 
River depot, a colored woman, with a babe in her arms, came up and 
begged protection. He said she should have it, and meantime two more 
colored women and three more children appealed to him. He conducted 



38 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

them to the station-house, where Capt. Greer gave them shelter and 
food ; they had been without food, and hiding here and there, for over 
forty-eight hours. 

On Saturday, 18th, at 6 P. M., Sergt. Robinson and a section of 
men were ordered to the Central Office on special duty. At 4 A. M. 
on Sunday, they were ordered to join the command of Capt. Dixon, of 
the Twenty-eighth Precinct, which embarked at the foot of Canal Street 
for a visit to different towns on the Hudson, where trouble was antici- 
pated. Hastings, Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and Peekskill were visited ; at 
each place the men disembarked and made reconnoissance. On the re- 
turn from Peekskill all these places were again visited. The command 
returned to this city on the following evening. 

On Wednesday, at 4 A. M., Sergeant Robinson, with seven men, 
formed another command, under Capt. Dixon, on an expedition to Sta- 
ten Island. They landed at Port Richmond, from thence proceeded to 
New Brighton, and then across to Quarantine. Here Capt. Dixon heard 
of a disturbance near Wood Road, where a day before two soldiers had 
been killed. He repaired at once to Vanderbilt Landing, was refused 
the co-operation of some military there, but proceeded, with his small 
force, to and through the whole district where the trouhle had occurred. 
About 3 P. M. the force returned to the city, and were met at Canal 
Street by a company of the Seventh Regiment who were in waiting to 
accompany them to Flushing. Off they started again, ariiving there at 
8 P. M., when a thorough tour of the place Avas made. The force quar- 
tered on the boat that night, a guard being left on duty. Next morn- 
ing again patrolled the village and vicinity, and at 11 A. M. returned 
to New York, when the expedition was dismissed, each squad being or- 
dered to its precinct. 

It will be admitted that the force of the Third Precinct were kept 
pretty constantly engaged, abroad as well as at home ; and their duties, 
constant and arduous as they were, were most faithfully and willingly 
performed. 

Fourth Precinct. 

Monday afternoon, a poi-tion of the force of the Fourth Precinct — 
Captain Bryan, No. 9 Oak Street — reported at headquarters, under Ser- 
geants Delany and Lockwood, — only one section being retained at the 
station, under Sergeants Rode and Williams, the former in command. 
This was engaged all day in saving the lives of colored persons in the 
precinct, some seventy of whom were rescued from gangs, and .brought 
for safety to the station-house. Roundsman Webb was unwearying and 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. S9 

most faithful in discharge of tliis duty. During the day, thirteen houses 
occupied by this class were sacked and partially burned, the active efforts 
of the force preventing their entire destruction. In the evening, Ser- 
geant Williams and Roundsman Webb, with four men, all in citizen's 
dress, mingled with the crowd at the Tribune Bmld'mga, and, ascertaining 
its purpose, made prompt report to Captain Bryan, who, with what 
men he had, was soon thereafter engaged, with the Twenty-sixth Pre- 
cinct, in the defeat of the mob. Subsequently Captain Bryan acted as 
guide on Inspector Carpenter's tour through the Fourth Ward, and, 
with some of his precinct, joined in the attacks upon the mob in Roose- 
velt and in Dover Streets. During all Monday night, and until Tuesday 
morning, the second section were constantly on active duty in the 
ward. 

On the evening of Monday, an attack was made on the station-house. 
Sergeant Rode w^as in command, with only eight men in the house at the 
time. The mob numbered some five or six hundred. With two un- 
loaded muskets, eight men, and a bold front, the rioters w^ere so fright- 
ened that they fled on the first demonstration of the command. 

In Roosevelt Street Sergeant Rode, w^hile alone, saw a mob collected 
and a man attempting to batter in the door of a Mrs. Johnson's house, 
who owms houses in the Fourth Ward, and rents them to negroes. He 
immediately seized the man, and a struggle ensued ; the Sergeant, how- 
ever, clung to him until the fellow received aid and the officer was over- 
powered by superior numbers. He was comp»elled to let him go, but it 
was not before all the clothing had been torn from the body of the rioter. 
As soon as the man was rescued the mob coi:nmenced stoning the Ser- 
geant, and a brick striking him on the chest, disabled him. Fortunately, 
at this juncture. Sergeant Delany, with a platoon of men, arrived, res- 
cued the Sergeant, and put the rioters to flight. 

On Tuesday, the balance of the force of the precinct were returned 
to the station. They had been doing good duty ; were in the first battle 
of the campaign, under Inspector Carpenter, at Broadwaj^ and Amity ; 
at midnight, Monday, were with the force which recovered the body of 
the negro hung in Clarkson Street ; and on Tuesday, with Inspector 
Dilk's command, were in the fierce fight at Second Avenue and Twenty- 
-first Street. About noon Godfrey's gun store w^as attacked, and its 
pillage prevented by Sergeant Rode. At dusk scouting parties w'ere 
sent out. Patrolmen Plott, Kennedy, and Davis were among the mob 
gathering at Brooks & Brothers' store in Catharine Street, were recog- 
nized, attacked, and very badly beaten. They were brought to the station- 
house by a party of citizens. The entire force repaired to the store, 
made battle w^ith, and dispersed, the mob. Had not broken ranks on 



40 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

return ere word came of the sacking of a boot and shoe store in Catha- 
rine Street ; repaired on the double-quick, had a sharp fight, and cleared 
the streets ; counter-marched down Catharine Street, halting 400 feet 
from Brooks & Brothers' store, where the mob had reassembled, busy in 
plundering. Captain Bryan went forward, and ascertaining the work 
going on, returned to his command and ordered a charge, which was 
made in gallant style. Some hundreds, it is estimated, of the rioters and 
thieves, were badly beaten in this charge. The street and store were 
cleared, and a portion of the force remained in charge of the building 
until relieved by the Seventh Precinct. Until Wednesday morning, 
scouting parties were sent in all parts of the precinct. Sergeant Rode 
and Officer Irvin came upon a gang attempting to break into Lord & 
Taylor's store, from Catharine Street ; they fled, but received a discharge 
from revolvers, unfortunately without injury. 

At the riot at Brooks', Sergeant Delany was fired at by a man who 
was only about four feet from him, the wadding of the pistol knocking 
the Sergeant's cap off". 

There Avere no further disturbances in this precinct, and, until Fri- 
day, the force were engaged in hunting up goods stolen from Brooks 
Brothers' recovering some $5,000 worth stowed away in different houses 
in the ward. 

On Saturday, regular patrol duty was resumed. All of Captain 
Bryan's men had seen constant duty, laboriously and most faithfully 
performed. They responded to every call with alacrity, and evinced 
unflinching courage. 

Fifth Precinct. 

At noon on Monday, a portion of the force of the Fifth Precinct, 
Captain Petty, No. 49 Leonard Street, reported under Roundsman 
Hessian at headquarters — the rest held in reserve for ward duty. In 
the afternoon Captain Petty, who visited Thomas Street alone and in 
citizen's dress, met a crowd in an alleyway, battering in the doors of 
houses occupied by colored people. He interposed, and was at once 
assailed by divers missiles ; his chances of being stoned to death were 
increasing when some of the reserve came to his rescue, and drove ofP 
the rioters, clearing that vicinity of them. 

In the evening, the balance of the force reported at headquarters, 
whence, at about IIP. M., under Captain Petty, they joined Inspector 
Leonard's command, which marched to the City Hall. From here they 
were engaged in the various expeditions in the lower sections of the city 
until Tuesday A. M., when ordered to headquarters. Captain Petty 
with 200 men (including his own precinct force) was soon after ordered 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 41 

to the protection o^ the soap factory in Sixteenth Street, between Eighth 
and Ninth Avenues. When the force came in sight, two blocks off, the 
mob, which Captain Petty characterizes as the most pusilhmimous he 
ever saw, fled in all directions; chase was given them, but in vain. Four 
employees were found in the factory, who had been bravely and success- 
fully defending it. The force marched through Eighth and Ninth Ave- 
nues and the intersecting streets as flir as Nineteenth Street, clearinf^ the 
entire section of all gatherings, and returning to headquarters, having 
fully accomplished its purpose. In the afternoon, Captain Petty and his 
men were a portion of Captain Helm's command in the encounters with 
the mob at the Second Avenue wire factory, where some thousands of 
carbines were stored, and which the mob were pillaging. A severe 
battle was had here ; and a charge into the factory, filled with rioters, was 
ordered. Captain Petty, with ten of his men, made their way to the 
fifth floor, where many of the rioters were caught. Some went down the 
hatchway, some ran the^auntlet of the police on the stairs, but all were 
more or less punished. At one time eight of them lay blocking up a 
doorway. After securing a large number of arms, and loading them into 
a wagon, the entire command of Captain Helm reformed on the avenue, 
only to find themselves hemmed in on all sides by an excited and threat- 
ening crowd, overpowering in numbers. They were relieved from their 
critical position — one from which they could not have escaped without 
great loss of life — by the opportune arrival of Inspector Dilks and his 
command, with whom, the Fifth acting as escort to the wagon load of 
carbines, they returned to headquarters. 

On Wednesday morning. Captain Petty, in command of a company 
of military and a body of specials, made a tour through the infected 
districts of the First and Second Avenues, but found all quiet save the 
women, who, on the advent of the force, fearing a repetition of the 
exemplary punishment the rioters had received during the day, made the 
usually quiet hours ring with their shrieks and screams. The force were 
on this tour for three hours. During Wednesday the Fifth were on duty 
at headquarters, and in the evening were returned to their own precinct. 
From here twenty -five were sent to the Eighth Precinct, under command 
of Sergeant Brooks, where they remained till Thursday night. The 
balance kept on patrol and scouting duty until Friday, when the force 
resumed regular duty. 

Officer Field, on Monday and Tuesday, remained in the precinct, on 
detective duty ; he knew, and was known by, all the riotous parties, and 
was invaluable in prevention of outrages in Thomas, Leonard, and York 
Streets. 

On the morning of the outbreak, the telegraph wires connecting with 
this station were out of order, and about the first intimation Captain 



42 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Petty received of disturbances was from a terrified colored man, who 
drove up to the station-house at a racing speed, jumped from his cart, 
and gave it in charge of the police ; he said he was afraid to remain on 
it, having been pursued by a mob, and only escaping by putting his 
horse to its speed. He was, with his property, afforded protection. 

On Tuesday, attempts were made to organize a inob in the precinct 
and attack the station-house. Sergeant Higgins and Doorman Pallister 
were the only ones there. Some 400 colored peisons had taken refuge 
in the station ; these were given weapons, and promised to fight to the 
last. The door^ were barricaded, and the two officers made all prepara- 
tions to give their assailants a warm reception. About 10 P. M. the 
mob assembled in front, fired at the building, and were about to fire it, 
when Inspector Carpenter, with his command, made their appearance, 
came on to the mob with a rush, and drove them in all directions. Some 
time after the Inspector left another demonstration was made, but a 
company of military, quartered in Worth Street, hurried to the rescue 
and the mob again fled. 

For three days and nights none of the Fifth Precinct had any rest; 
their duties were numerous and fatiguing, but were performed cheerfully 
and creditably. 

Sixth Precinct. 

This precinct, Gapt. John Jourdan, No. 9 Franklin Street, had no 
little work to do. At 3 P. M. on Monday an attack was made by a 
large mob on premises of colored people at No. 42 Baxter Street. Capt. 
Jourdan, with Sergeants Walsh and McGiven and the second platoon, 
were soon at the spot, and after a severe fight, in which the force was 
boldly opposed, the rioters were dispersed, many of them badly injured. 
Of the force, Roundsman Ryan was the only one hurt ; he was knocked 
down and his club wrenched from him, but was at once on his feet again 
and in the thickest of the fray. Soon after, the Captain, with same offi- 
cers and platoon, repaired to Crook's, No. 74 Chatham Street, which was 
being assailed by a mob. A charge was made unexpectedly upon the 
rascals, the locust liberally used, and a general scattering ensued. At 5^ 
P. M. some three hundred men, women, and boys attacked the dwellings 
of colored people in Pell, near Mott, Street ; with the same officers and 
force, the Ci^ptain repaired thither, charged upon and routed the assail- 
ants. In this cowardly attack by the rioters, Elizabeth Hennesy, a col- 
ored woman, 57 years of age, was struck and severely injured by a brick ; 
she was rescued by the police, and conveyed to the City Hospital. At 
6 P. M. upwards of six hundred rioters attacked a house at Leonard 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 48 

• and Baxter Streets, occupied by some twenty colored families, stoning 
in the windows, attempting to break in and fire it. Capt. Jourdan, with 
SergeantsV/^ALSH, Quinn, and Kennedy, and first and second platoons, was 
speedily on hand ; a severe fight ensued ; the rioters were effectively 
handled, and dozens lay senseless on the street ; ultimately they fled. 

About this time the whole force were ordered to report at headquar- 
ters, and while on their way were met at Mott and Grand Streets by a 
large mob, who greeted them with howling and hooting. They marched 
steadily on^ not noticing the noisy demonstration ; but when the crowd 
assailed them with stones and other missiles, at Broome and Mott 
Streets, they were wheeled and ordered to a charge, which was made in 
gallant style and carried with it severe punishment to the rioters, who 
were soon defeated and — save those who were laying in the street — 
flying. Roundsman Hopkins was struck, in this fight, with a stone, on 
the head, v/hich did him some damage. At 6^ P. M. the force was at 
headquarters, and soon after were sent with Inspector Carpenter's 
command to the Park, where they participated actively — having the 
right of the line — in punishment meted out to the rioters fleeing from 
Printing-house Square. After having a settlement with the mob here, 
Capt. Jourdan was sent with his force to protect his own ward ; 
came upon a mob of six hundred, attacking Nos. 104 and 105 Park 
Street, occupied by colored people ; made a charge ; had to fight hand- 
to-hand, using locusts effectively ; beat and scattered the rioters. This 
done, Capt. Jourdan repaired to the station-house, and soon after was 
ordered to the Fourth Precinct, in conjunction with Capt. Bryan and his 
men, to take charge of the Fourth and Sixth Precincts ; heard of a riot 
in Baxter Street, in a locality known as Cow Bay ; hurried there, and 
dispersed a mob which was attacking dwellings ; returned to the Fourth 
Precinct, and during the balance of the night were in reserve. 

Tuesday morning a mob in Leonard Street was assaulting and beat- 
ing colored people. Capt. Jourdan, with a force, repaired there, defeated 
and dispersed the mob, rescued six negroes and brought them in safety 
to the station. At 3 P. M. hundreds of the lawless attacked the ne- 
gro dwellings in Catharine Lane, near Elm. The Sixth Precinct were 
promptly to the scene, and prevented injury to person or property. 

From this time until Wednesday morning quiet prevailed, until 11 
o'clock, when Capt. Jourdan, Sergts. Quinn and Kennedy, were engaged 
in quelling a mob in Centre, near Worth Street, who were assailing every 
colored person they met. After this, Sergt. Walsh, with half the force, 
returned to its own precinct. 

Early in the evening some four hundred rioters attempted to sack 
and demolish a building at the corner of Mott and Centre Streets; 



M SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Sergt. QuiNN, with one platoon, hastened to and attacked the mob.. 
They made a bold resistance, and the fight was severe before they 
were routed. Here Patrolman Charles McDonnell was injured ; he 
was struck in the face and terribly cut, knocked down, regained his feet, 
and, despite his condition, rejoined his comrades, and did execution 
enough to more than compensate for his injuries ; he did his part 
bravely and nobly. During the night (Wednesday) there were many 
demonstrations against the dwellings Nos. 38 and 40 Baxter Street, 
occupied by colored people ; all of them, however, were promptly met 
and defeated by the Sixth Precinct, sometimes with and sometimes with- 
out a battle. 

On Monday the force of this precinct was at times divided ; the re- 
serve under Sergeant Walsh was ordered at noon to the aid of Capt. 
Cameron, Eighteenth Precinct ; they remained there in defence of the 
station-house until the mob became overwhelming, and were the last of 
the police who left the building ; ic was subsequently burned. On Tues- 
day morning Sergeant Walsh, with one platoon, was part of Inspector 
Carpenter's command in the perilous visit to the Second Avenue, where 
such severe fighting was had. In the afternoon, with his men, he was 
sent to City Hall, under Inspector Leonard, where they remained until 
Wednesday P. M., thence to their own station. 

The duties of the officers and men of this precinct, as has been seen, 
were incessant and arduous ; theirs seemed to be an almost continuous 
series of fights or skirmishes. Not one halted or hesitated ; all were 
brave, all true. Especial praise is awarded to Roundsmen Hopkins and 
Ryan, and to Patrolman Charles McDonnell, each of whom on all oc- 
casions evinced the greatest courage ; the tM^o latter were very roughly 
handled by the mobs, but never faltered. 

On Wednesday evening some four hundred merchants, clerks, and 
others doing business in Capt. Jourdan's precinct, tendered their ser- 
vices to him as special patrolmen ; they were accepted, sent on duty, 
and he awards them high praise for the efficiency and value of their ser- 
vices. 

Seventh Precinct. 

The force of this precinct. Captain Theron R. Bennett, No. 247 
Madison Street, reported at headquarters Monday afternoon, with Ser- 
geants McConnell, Garland, and Clark — ^Sergeant Loudon being left in 
charge of station. The force, with Sergeants McConnell and Garland, 
composed a portion of Inspector Carpenter's command in the attack 
upon and severe usage of the rioters at Broadway and Amity Street, 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 46 

being active and prominent therein. At night the force reported to 
Inspector Leonard, at the City Hall, and was engaged in the many du- 
ties which were necessary for the protection of the portion of the city 
thereabouts. On Tuesday morning they were ordered to headquarters, 
and subsequently, with Inspector Dilks' command, visited Second Ave- 
nue, where the sharp fighting was done, and in which the Seventh were 
actively engaged. Later in the day, under Inspector Leonard, a mob at 
Broadway and Bond Street were attacked and dispersed, the Seventh 
participating. On return to headquarters, Sergeant McConnell relieved 
Sergeant Loudon at station, who reported for duty at central office. Cap- 
tain Eexnett, with his command, was detailed, with a company of mili- 
tary, to visit Thirty -fourth Street, where Colonel O'Brien was so horri- 
bly murdered, to recover the body. On reaching the ground, it was 
ascertained that the body had been rescued from the rioters, and taken 
to Bellevue. On the same evening the force was ordered to the care of 
its own precinct, where patrol duty was resumed Friday. 

On Monday evening Sergeant Garland was detached from his com- 
mand and sent to the Tenth Precinct Station to work the telegraph ; 
about 9 P. M. the building was assailed by a mob, who stoned in the 
windows ; they were fresh from the sacking and destruction of Provost 
Marshal Duffy's house. There were but few men in the station, but 
Surgeon Wells, and a number of citizens, came to the rescue, the former 
acting with great coolness and courage. Officer McCloud found a small 
cannon in the building, which was hastily hauled into position at the 
door, pointed on to the mob, who, at sight of it, broke and scattered. On 
Tuesday inorning Sergeant Garland was relieved as telegraph operator, 
and reported to Inspector Dilks at headquarters, by whom he was de- 
tailed as acting adjutant of the battalion of police which the Inspector led 
to the Second Avenue, as already referred to. He was also in the sec- 
ond expedition to the same section, under Mr, Dilks, and narrowly es- 
caped the ball which came so near cutting off a good man and true in 
the Inspector, but cut off a tree branch at its bend against him instead. 
The Sergeant was receiving orders from Mr, D, at the time. In one of 
the battles with the mob at the Eighteenth Precinct, Sergeant McConnell 
and his command were engaged; they had to enter and clear adjacent 
houses of parties who were firing from the roofs and windows. The 
work was well and promptly done, but the street fighting was severe, and 
the rioters not dispersed until the military, called to the aid of the police, 
had fired several voile}' s. 

The officers and men of this precinct saw considerable service during 
the week, and sustained the good repute hitherto attached to them. 



46 SEEVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 



£i<^lit]i Precinct. 

This precinct, Captain M. De Camp, No. 127 Wooster Street, was 
early on active duty. At 9 A. M. Sergeant Wade and ten men reported 
to Captain Speight, No 1190 Broadway, Provost Marshal Maniekre's 
office, which they assisted in defending. At noon. Sergeant Ellison, 
with thirteen men, was sent to protect the Provost Marshal's office at 
Third Avenue and Forty-sixth Street ; on arrival at Third Avenue and 
Forty-fourth Street he met the provost guard, which had been driven 
from the Marshal's office, and were fleeing down, pursued by the mob. 
Checking and reinforcing them, he ordered a wheel, a volley, and a 
bayonet charge upon the mob ; the guard halted, made a move as though 
about to obey, but finally refused, and, on one of them being knocked 
down with a stone, they broke and fled. Thus left alone to meet the 
mob. Sergeant Ellison and his men, thoughtless of the vast dispropor- 
tion in numbers, made a desperate charge, and a desperate hand-to-hand 
fight ensued ; the mob stood their ground, fighting fiercely, and finally 
the force — Sergeant Ellison badly beaten and in the hands of the rioters 
— was compelled to fall back in retreat. At this juncture, Sergeant 
Wade and his men, relieved from duty at No. 1 190 Broadway, came on 
to the ground, hurrying to the relief of their companions, by whom they 
were greeted with ringing cheers. The mob were threatening to hang 
Ellison, and great as was the superiority in numbers, the united force 
at once charged to the rescue ; so impetuous, earnest, and determined 
was the charge made, so terribly did the locusts do their work, that the 
mob were forced back some three blocks, fighting all the M-ay, and the 
Sergeant rescued. But the odds were too great for permanent success ; 
the excited thousands closed in upon the small force from the streets in 
their rear, pressed back upon them from the front, and they were soon 
hemmed in ; they had to fight their way through and out, contested at 
every inch of ground, but succeeded, though at a great cost, in extri- 
cating themselves from their critical position. In the first of these bat- 
tles Sergeant Ellison was badly beaten, taken prisoner, and rescued ; 
Officer Van Buren had his leg broken, and Officers Crolius, Palmer, 
and McCAULwere each severely beaten. In the second. Sergeant Wade 
was hit in the breast with a stone, and the following officers were in- 
jured : Andre, his head badly cut ; Law, injured in head and body ; 
Hart, head and body ; Burns, Merhek, and Magersuppe, each severely 
beaten, and heads badly cut. Those who were too badly injured to es- 
cape sought refuge in the houses of citizens in the vicinity until they 
could be removed, and the balance of the force so roughly used, and now 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 4T 

scattered, repaired to their station-house, leaving the mob exultant over 
the defeat of the handful. 

Sergeant Ellison had a sufficiently serious time. When about to 
fire the gun which he had wrenched from a rioter, it was knocked from 
his grasp by a brick, going off as it fell and shooting a horse in the leg ; 
he defended himself with a revolver, and, his command being beaten, he 
retreated, running into a hallway. The mob followed, pulled him out, 
walked him up and down for awhile, yelling and hooting over his cap- 
ture, beating him with clubs, and pelting him with stones. Falling from 
exhaustion, they still continued to beat him. Those who could not get 
at him dropped large stones over the other's shoulders. At last they 
left him, thinking him dead, in which condition he lay for twenty or thirty 
minutes. Two men carried him off towards the Twenty first Precinct Sta- 
tion. On the way down the mob followed, threatening to attack again, 
but were driven back by the forces arriving under Sergeant Wade, as 
before chronicled. 

Sergeants Wade and O'Connor, with their commands, were at the 
dispersion of the mob, in the afternoon, on Broadway and Amity Street, 
and on duty at the City Hall all night. The precinct was joined to Cap- 
tain Walling's command on Tuesday morning, and aided in suppressing 
the riot at Broome and Pitt Streets; subsequently, with Captain Wil- 
son's command, patrol duty was done by them in infested portions of 
First and Second Avenues. In the aft'^riioon they were part of Inspector 
Li<onakd's command at the City Hall, and were engaged in punishing 
the mob which assailed the military at Broadway and Chambers Street. 
During the night they were among those dispersing the rioters threaten- 
ing the Western Hotel, in Cortlamlt Street; Wednesday, at the City 
Hall until the afternoon, when the force reported to Captain Warlhw, 
First Precinct; sent to Pier 4, North River, to quell disturbances there, 
and at night on duty in Broad and Stone Streets, where parties of thieves 
were attempting to break into stores. On Thursday dispersed mob at 
South and Wall Streets, threatenii;g to break into a store and seize a 
negro employed there. The force remained at the First Precinct until 
Saturday A. M., when ordered to its own pi eeinct on usual duty. 

In this precinct a few officers in citizens' dress were constantly patroll- 
ing the ward, and mixing with the rioters in the colored district of 
Thompson and Sullivan, and marking the ringleaders. The block 
bounded by Sullivan, Grand, Thom])son, and Bioome is almost entirely 
occupied by negroes. The colored men were armed and prepared for a 
vigorous defence. They carried cart loads of stones to the houses, tore 
down their chimneys, and were well provided with missiles. 

During the week Sergeant Miller was constantly in charge of the 



48 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

station-house. He had special scouts out, and was thus informed of an 
intended destruction of the " Arch," in Sullivan Street. A prompt tele- 
graph by him of the fact to headquarters brought a force down in time 
to preA^ent it. He also received and took charge, during the first four 
days, of 268 refugees. During the week 751 were fed and cared for. 

The record of the doings of this precinct is one full of honor, and 
the numbers injured and disabled in the first two encounters show 
how persistently and bravely they acted in order to accomplish a duty, 
even though it were an impossibility. The highest praise is awarded by 
Captain De Camp to Sergeant Ellison, who exhibited " dauntless cour- 
age," and to Sergeants Wade and O'Connor, as it is to all his men, of 
whom he speaks with a just and earnest pride. 



]\iiitli Precinct. 

Jacoi? L. Sebring, Captain, No. 94 Charles Street. On Monday, at 
10 A. M., Sergeant Mangin, with ten men, reported to Captain Speight, 
No. 1190 Broadway, and were parties to the defence of the Provost 
Marshal's office there. At 11 A. M. Sergeant Smith, with a platoon, 
was also ordered to report to Captain Pouter. Both of these officers 
and their commands were subsequently ordered to Forty -sixth Street, 
where Sergeant Ellison and force were so badly handled, a detailed 
account of which is given in the record of the Eighth Precinct. They 
arrived at the scene same time as Sergeant Wade, and went gallantly 
into the fight against overwhelming odds ; the list of casualties — Ser- 
geants Mangin and Smith and ten of the force being badly injured — 
shows how well and bravely they performed their part on this disastrous 
occasion. After the retreat they returned to their own precinct, escaping 
thither as best they could, and instantly reformed for further duty. At 
5.30 P. M. the entire force, under Captain Sebring, reported at head- 
quarters. They were with Inspector Carpenter in the evening, at the 
exemplary punishment of the mob in the City Hall Park and Printing- 
house Square, and thence with him in the useful tour through the Fourth 
and adjacent wards. 

At 1 o'clock A. M., on Tuesday, with the command under Sergeant 
CoPELAND, they went to Clarkson Street, to recover the body of the 
colored man hung, and whicli was cut down and taken to headquarters. 
At noon Captain Sebring, with his command, dispersed a gang at Spring 
and Murray Streets, who had sacked a liquor store and nearly murdered 
its proprietor. In the afternoon they were with Captain Dilks, in the 
visit to the factory in Second Avenue, and participated gallantly in 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK. JULY, 1863. 49 

the battle there. In the evening they took a tour through the Fourth 
and wards adjoining. 

Wednesday morning the Captain and command, with Sergeant Cope- 
land's force, visited the infected portions of the Second and Third Ave- 
nues, dispersing all crowds. In the evening a section assisted the de- 
tectives in arresting gangs of thieves in Crosby and Houston Streets. 
At night the entire command were ordered to the Eighth Precinct to 
protect the " Arch," in Sullivan Street, populated by colored people. 
They charged the mob, beat and dispersed them, and prevented great 
destruction of lives and of property. 

On Thursday morning the force was on miscellaneous duty, aidino- 
as escorts to the military, guarding the prisoners at headquarters, &;c. 
On Friday, same duties, which continued until noon Saturday, when 
ordered to their own precinct, and ordinary routine. 

Sergeant Smith was so badly injured at Forty-sixth Street as to be 
confined to his bed. Sergeant Siebert had throughout remained in 
charge of the station-house, and proved equal to any emergency. Col. 
Ladue, resident of the precinct, had formed a citizens' corps of " specials," 
and did patrol duty as well as acting for the protection of the station ; 
and to him and the firemen of the precinct, who were of great service to 
Captain Seeking, much credit is due. 

During the entire week there was not a word of complaint from 
either officers or men. Constant as was the duty, all orders were re- 
sponded to with alacrity, and each oiae performed thoroughly. 

Tenth Precinct. 

Captain T. C. Davis, Essex Market. At noon the reserve of this 
precinct was sent to Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue, under Ser- 
geants Minor and Davenport, and participated in the savage fight, here- 
tofore described, which occurred there. At 5 P. M. Captain Davis re- 
ported, with his entire force, at headquarters ; and in the evening, under 
Inspector Carpenter, this force effectively used their locusts upon the 
mob which had attempted to burn the Tribune Buildings ; thence in the 
risky march through the Fourth and other wards, and thence to head- 
quarters for the night. On Tuesday morning Captain Davis and his 
force, with the force under Inspector Carpenter, went on the hazardous 
march to Second Avenue, and w^ere prominent in the assault of the 
houses from which the police were fired at. In this, four of the men of 
the precinct were badly injured, but all evinced a courage and determin- 
ation which no danger baffled or checked. Subsequently at headquarters, 
from whence they were ordered to the Fifth Regiment Armory, to pro- 
4 



50 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

cure the arms there and bring them to the Central Office for distribution ; 
the men were desirous for more active duty and anxious to " flesh " their 
locusts again, but performed the duty promptly and well. At night 
Captain Davis and command were with Inspector Leonard at the City 
Hall, where, on duty in various sections thereabouts of the city, they 
remained until Wednesday morning ; then sent to Twenty-seventh Pre- 
cinct station-house, sweeping away a threatening crowd in front of it ; 
thence to the bonded warehouse in West Street, and thence to Twenty- 
seventh Precinct station again, where they remained on guard till late 
in the evening, when ordered to headquarters, and from thence to their 
own precinct. 

On Tuesday officer James Adams was accidentally shot in front of 
headquarters. He was conveyed home by a brother officer. This force 
did well and faithfully ; and Captain Davis, his officers and men, won the 
honor that an entire and fearless discharge of duty entitled them to. Ser- 
geant Wemyss and Roundsman Hart were especially active and valuable 
in all duties. 

On the evening of Monday the station-house was attacked by a mob, 
who were driven off by officers Wood and McCloud, and officer King 
of the Third District Court, sundry citizens aiding, as did Surgeon 
Wells and Sergeant Garland of the Seventh Precinct. Officer 
McCloud found a cannon in the building, and it was placed at the door, 
pointing on the mob ; empty as it was, it had the desired effect — the 
rascals scattering. 

On Monday an attack was made on the house No. 134 Division 
Street, and the furniture destroyed. Officer Wood, of this precinct, and 
officer King, of the Third District Court, with a number of citizens, 
made a charge on and dispersed the rioters. 

At the attack on the lawless in Second Avenue, officer Rothschild 
was struck and badly hurt on the head, and officer Sandford also in- 
jured. 

Eleventh Precinct. 

John J. Mount, Captain, Union Market. At six P. M. Monday, 
Captain Mount, with his whole force, reported at headquarters. At 
evening this command formed part of the force under Inspector Car- 
penter, in the Park and Printing-house Square attack on the mob. The 
Tenth, being in the rear, had the last punishment of the flying, and put 
some fifty hors du combat ; also, with the Inspector through the Fourth 
and other wards on same evening. On this tour Captain Mount and 
men were detached to protect the persons and property of colored people 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 51 

near New Bowery and Roosevelt Street, the balance of the force con- 
tinuing on their march. The Eleventh did a hard duty well, kept the 
mob in check, and ultimately drove them off. Were rejoined by the 
force, and detailed to the Fourth Precinct for the night. At 10|- P. M. 
repaired to Roosevelt and Batavia Streets, charged upon and had a sharp 
fight with a mob of rioters and thieves, who were sacking houses, and 
put them, with not a few badly injured, to flight. The force were here 
assailed from the roofs, and officer McMauon was very badly injured 
by a brick. A large bonfire had been made by the mob, of the articles 
taken from the houses which were too cumbrous to steal — for the first, 
last, and only purpose of the riots by every man and woman engaged in 
them was theft, from a penny dip up to all things portable — and threat- 
ened to fire the adjacent buildings. Captain Mount secured a length of 
hose, and, attaching it to a hydrant, put the flames out — all the time his 
force being the recipients of volleys of bricks and stones. This done, 
another fight was had with the rioters, who, for a while, boldly stood 
their ground, but gave way finally, severely punished, 

Tuesday morning the force were at headquarters, and, with Inspector 
Carpenter's command, went to the Second Avenue. On the terrible 
assault the force received from the windows and roofs of the houses in 
the vicinity of Thirty-fourth Street, Captain Mount, by order of the In- 
spector, led the storming party; and gallantly did he do so, as the details 
of this affliir, already given, show. One huge rioter was, on this occasion, 
knocked clear off his feet and off the roof of a four-story tenement house, 
by a single well-directed and well-dealt blow of a club. He was 
crushed to death by the fjill. Subsequently the force reported to In- 
spector Leonard, at City Hall, and were engaged several times during 
the afternoon in dispersing the crowds in the Park and Printing-house 
Square. At midnight were at Western Hotel, Courtlandt Street, and on 
guard there till 3^ P. M. ; back to City Hall ; there till 11 A. M. Wed- 
nesday ; and thence to headquarters, where orders to return to own pre- 
cinct were received. Here* with special force, patrol duty was per- 
formed until 6 A. M., when ordinary duty was resumed. 

All officers and men of this precinct did their entire duty ; there was 
not an exception ; and while each is entitled to the credit therefor, yet 
especial mention should be made of Sergeants Polly, Ahearn, and 
Reed; Roundsmen Warmsley and Donohue; Patrolmen Warren, 
Beatty, Gass, Bogart, McMahon, and McCarty, for unflinching courage 
and devotion to duty. During the riots Sergeant Upham was left in 
charge of the station-house and precinct, discharging his responsible du- 
ties there in a manner which restored confidence in the neighborhood, 
and was most creditable to himself. 



52 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Sergeant Polly was the officer who, with Inspector Leonard, boldly 
entered into the midst of the mob assailing the military at Broadway 
and Chambers Street. They arrested the ringleader in order to divert 
attention from the military and draw it on themselves. The r^ise suc- 
ceeded and they were instantly assailed. They hmig on to the prisoner, 
arrested another leader, and backed their way toward the City Hall, 
fighting at every step, and keeping the mob from them with their clubs. 
Inspector Leonard is warm in his praise of the Sergeant's coolness and 
unflinching courage on this occasion — against the hundreds — and, in- 
deed, no braver man is on the force. Both prisoners were held by 
these bold men, and the howling mob kept at bay until, as has hex-eto- 
fore been stated, relief from the City Hall arrived, when their assailants . 
were attacked and beaten, and their prisoners cast off. 

In connection with the Eleventh Precinct, it may be said that the 
German residents of that ward cannot have too much praise awarded 
them. They rallied to the aid of the authorities, and were prepared to 
assist them zealously, efficiently, and willingly whenever their services 
might be required. Another valuable force was also in readiness ; at 
the Neptune Iron Works, Messrs. Boardman & Watts had organized 
three hundred good men and true for the protection of the ward. 
Two hundred were armed with sabres, one hundred with muskets, and 
all ready at a moment's notice to respond to any call. Woe would have 
fallen upon the rioters had they ever met them. 

Twelfth Precinct. 

Capt. A. S. Relay, Harlem, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Street, 
near Third Avenue. Early orders were received at this precinct, on 
Monday morning, to call in reserve and hold the force in readiness, but 
owing to the subsequent destruction of the telegraph, it was not until 
5.30 P. M. that, by a special messenger, directions were received upon 
which Sergts. Osborn and Walters left for headquarters with thirty- 
five men. They took the Third Avenue cars as far as Seventy-first 
Street, where, the operations of the road being stopped below, the com- 
pany had concluded to haul off. The force thence took up the long 
march to headquarters, reaching there at 8 P. M. In the night they 
were with Inspector Leonard's command at City Hall, and engaged on 
the various and constant duties required in that vicinity ; portions of 
the time being the only force in Printing-house Square, and effectually 
keeping it clear of the ill-disposed. On Tuesday mornuig reported at 
headquarters, and, attached to Capt. Walling's command, made the tour 
through the Bowery and adjacent streets ; in the afternoon another tour 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 53 

to the Bowery and vicinity, under Inspector Carpenter. On the return, 
one Patrick Carle stood on the sidewalk brandishing a sword, and 
threatening destruction to all in, and some out of, authority. Officer 
Banfield seized him, secured the weapon, and drew him into the ranks, 
conveying him to headquarters, where he was locked up. In the evening 
the command were at the City Hall again, and participated in the vari- 
ous excursions therefrom. On Wednesday morning the force were ordered 
to the Twenty-seventh Precinct, and thence to their own precinct, Har- 
lem. They reached Harlem in the afternoon, and were received with 
enthusiasm by the residents. Although this force were not engaged on 
any very hazardous duty, yet they were actively employed, and what 
duties were assigned them were fully performed. 

The few of this precinct who remained with Capt. Relay and Ser- 
geant Sandford, at the station-house, had very constant duty ; they 
staid at request of citizens, who reinforced them with special patrolmen. 
The station-house was threatened on several occasions, but no attack 
made. At 3^ A. M., Tuesday morning, the premises at One Hundred 
and Twenty -ninth Street and Third Avenue were fired, and the force 
aided the firemen in their duties. About this time officer Bertholf, 
who was scouting, was attacked in the vicinity by six or eight men, and 
badly beaten ; he continued, however, on duty. During Tuesday night 
three attempts were made to burn the Baptist Church on Fifth Avenue 
and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, but were frustrated by the 
vigilance of the officers and specials ; an attempt to fire the dwelling of 
Edgar Ketchum, Esq., on One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Street, 
was also prevented ; Sergt. Wares, discovering the attempt, gave timely 
alarm. There were no further matters of note in the precinct, except 
the visit, on Wednesday morning, of a gang of thieves, who, meeting 
citizens, would demand and take money from them. They were speedily 
driven away. The first arrest of this character of villains was made in 
Harlem by a number of firemen — Messrs, Peter Gallagher, Thos. 
Green, Luke Hope, and A. Liscomb, of Engine Company No. 35, and 
Charles Riker, of Hook and Ladder Company No. 7. These gentle- 
men, while on patrol, came across a gang of fifteen or twenty of them, 
and made an attack forthwith. A severe fight ensued, but resulted in 
the capture of four and the flight of the rest of the thieves. They were 
taken by their captors to the station-house, subsequently committed, and 
have been indicted. Of the courage of these gentlemen the police and 
citizens of Harlem speak in just terms of praise. So do the latter of 
the Captain and the force left there, whose well-arranged plans and con- 
stant vigilance were of the greatest value. 



54 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Tliirteenth Precinct. 

Capt. Thomas Steers, No. 178 Delancey Street. At noon the Cap- 
tain, with Sergeants Bird and Smith, and twenty-five men, were ordered 
to Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue, to report to Capt. Porter. It 
was^with much difficulty that they made their way as far as Thirty-fifth 
Street and Third Avenue, and here found it impossible to proceed fur- 
ther, the mob being overwhelming and threatening. The force, there- 
fore, reported at the Twenty-first Precinct, East Thirty-first Street. 
Here great excitement prevailed, the mob gathering around the station- 
house, threatening to destroy it. Sergeant Samuel Forshay was in com- 
mand, at whose request Capt. Steers took charge and made aiTange- 
ments to defend it, which deterred the rioters from further demonstra- 
tions. From this station Capt. Steers sent conveyances for the wounded 
in the fight up the avenue and at Forty -sixth Street, and several were thus 
brought in. In the evening reported at headquarters, and were joined 
by the balance of the command, except Sergt. Woodward, left in charge 
of the station. The force were on picket duty around headquarters, and 
subsequently with Inspector Carpenter in the attack on the mob in 
the Park, where they did considerable execution ; thence, under 
same command, through the Fourth and other wards ; over night at 
headquarters, and on Tuesday morning, with others, under Capt. Sebring, 
gave the mob at Spring and Crosby Streets a severe defeat ; on the same 
day were with Capt. Helme's command in the attack on the mob at Sec- 
ond Avenue and Twenty-second Street, where this force evinced great 
bravery, being among the first on the mob and into the building, en- 
countering about fifty of the rioters armed with carbines, who, after a 
severe fight, were disarmed and terribly punished. The Thirteenth were 
subsequently engaged in the laborious work of securing and carrying 
down stairs the large number of carbines and loading them into 
the wagon which had been secured. After this work was done, and the 
entire command reformed by Capt. Helme, they were hemmed in from 
all directions by mobs, and would have had a bloody battle but for the 
timely arrival of Inspector Dilks and his command. 

After the taking of the building, Capt. Steers sent Sergt. Laflin, 
officers Seymour and Osborn, to seize a wagon for the purpose of load- 
ing it with the arms. They took one, emptied out its load, and, with the 
driver, brought it to the building, where it was used for the required 
purpose. 

At night this precinct formed a portion of the force under Inspector 
Carpenter in the attack upon the rioters at Brooks Brothers' clothing 
store, Catharine Street, after which, from headquarters, it was ordered to the 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 55 

care of its own precinct, where the rioters had sacked Provost Marshal 
Duffy's quarters in Grand Street, were robbing stores, and beating ne- 
groes. A short time before their arrival, a mob, led by a man since ar- 
rested and indicted, had been met at Pitt and Delancey Streets, and 
fired into by the military, and a number killed ; the body of one of them 
was brought to the station about the time the force reached there. This 
had had a good effect, and deterred the mob from an attack on the*8ta- 
tion-house, threatened several times during the day, but each time boldly 
met and prevented by Sergt. Woodward, in charge. The force arrived 
at midnight, and at once were engaged in dispersing all gatherings in the 
precinct, saving and affording refuge to colored people, and, with a force 
of specials aiding, broke upon and scattered a mob about to destroy the 
" Hook," in Jackson Street. At every turn the rioters were subse- 
quently met, no opportunity afforded them of uniting, and by Wednes- 
day noon order reigned in the precinct. Then the force devoted them- 
selves to recovering stolen goods, and during the week secured a large 
quantity. On Saturday resumed usual duty. All of this precinct did 
faithfully, finely, and it is just to make signal mention of special police- 
men Braisteed, Welsh, Barrett, and Tooker, whose efficiency and 
courage were especially noticeable. 



Fourteenth Precinct. 

Capt. J. J. Williamson, No. 53 Spring Street. The force, under the 
Captain, Sergeant Mackey accompanying, on Monday reported in full at 
headquarters at 4 P. M., being among the earliest, and accompanied 
Inspector Carpenter to Broadway and Amity Street, where such a bold 
and successful fight was had with a mob, and where the locusts of the 
Fourteenth were active in strewing the ground. At night were at the 
City Hall, under Inspector Leonard, where a full share of the responsible 
duties in that section was performed by them. 

On Tuesday were sent. Sergeant Ulman in command, with Capt. 
Petty's command, to disperse the rioters at the soap flictory in Sixteenth 
Street ; and afterward, under Capt. Helme, were engaged in the recovery 
of the arms at Twenty-second Street and Second Avenue, where the 
terrible fight was had, and where, but for the steady courage of the men, 
they would have been overcome. In this affair the Fourteenth, under Ser- 
geant Hughes, were closely engaged, and many of them had narrow es- 
capes ; they acted together and made havoc among their opponents, some 
of whom they pursued far beyond where safety would suggest. At night 
they were at Brooks Brothers' store, under Inspector Carpenter, where 



66 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

again their steady courage was evinced. It was a sharp, quick, hard 
fight, and well won. The night was pitchy dark. The command came 
on to the mob gathered at Catharine, Hamilton, Cherry, and Oak Streets. 
A platoon charged into each street. The Fourteenth took Oak ; had 
hand-to-hand fight, but cleared it of everything living. In the melee 
officer Regan became separated fron; his force, and was chased into a 
hallHvay, from which he escaped to the rear, and fled over fences and 
sheds. He received bad injuries in jumping to the ground, but saved 
his life. After this affair a march was made through the Fourth Ward, 
and several collisions with the rioters had, — in all cases the latter being 
speedily dispersed ; thence the command marched to the Fifth Ward ; 
at West Broadway and Leonard Street they were unexpectedly attacked 
with shot and stones ; made a rush, swept the rioters right and left, and 
cleared the vicinity. Soon after returned to headquarters, where they were 
held in reserve until Friday, then returning to routine duty at their own 
precinct. On Wednesday morning twenty-five were sent to Yorkville, 
under Roundsman Steers, where they were of the greatest service. 

At 11 A. M. Wednesday, officers Sutton, Riley, Dubuar, and 
Cannon, of this force, were detailed to pilot a regiment to Jackson's 
foundery. Twenty-eighth Street, between First and Second Avenues, 
which had been threatened. At Twenty -third Street and First Avenue 
the military were fired on by the mob ; the attack was continued through 
Twenty-third to Second Avenue, and on the Avenue to Twenty-fifth 
Street, without any response ; here, however, the howitzer was unlim- 
bered, and the mob fled. The line of march was resumed, when the 
mob rallied and renewed the assault, continuing it till the foundery, on 
Twenty-eighth Street, was reached. Soon after the military reached it 
they were again assailed by the mob which had followed them, and by 
another from the First Avenue. There was a delay in getting into the 
building, the doors being locked, and the mobs were firing and pressing 
down. The military thereupon fired several well-directed volleys, kill- 
ing and wounding a number, and causing a dispersion. Until late next 
day the foundery was constantly besieged and threatened by large mobs, 
but the determination of the military kept them at bay. 

The fury of the rioters appeared to be directed against the four po- 
licemen ; a committee waited on the oflicer in command and demanded 
that they should be delivered up ; if not, the foundery would be stormed 
at all hazards ; he was assured if they were delivered up the mob would 
disperse. The committee stood at a respectful distance while delivering 
their message, and took to their heels, on an intimation to do so or they 
would be shot. At 1 P. M. Thursday, the four of the Fourteenth, dis- 
guised in old garments of workmen which had been found in the foundery,, 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 5T 

made their way out, mingled with and through the mob, and succeeded, 
unmolested, in reaching headquarters. 

On all the duties this force were engaged in they were up to the 
requirements, on no occasion failing to respond faithfully and gallantly. 

Fifteenth Precinct. 

Capt. C. W. Caffry, No. 221 Mercer Street. At 9 A. M. Monday, 
Sergeant McCredie and fourteen men reported to Capt. Speight, at No. 
1190 Broadway, and were sent to Third Avenue and Forty-sixth Street. 
Reaching the avenue from Forty-third Street, a crowd was found extend- 
ing to Forty-sixth Street — a mass of excited, belligerent people. Here 
the small force of the Fifteenth was joined by more of the police, making 
in all forty-four. The mob met them defiantly. Sergt. McCredie — 
Fighting Mac, as he is familiarly called — took command. The regulars, 
beaten by the rioters, were fleeing down the avenue pursued by the mob. 
The Sergeant ordered a charge, which was instantly and gallantly made ; 
the mob was driven back to Forty-sixth Street, prostrate men marking 
the advance of the force ; at Forty -sixth Street, where they expected to 
meet more police, none were to be seen ; the mob rallied and soon 
poured down the avenue again, and crowded it in the rear from the side 
streets ; they numbered thousands ; they made an overwhelming charge 
from above upon the force ; stones, bricks, &c., from street and houses, 
from front and rear, filled the air ; clubs, iron bars, guns and pistols were 
used upon them ; the men attempted to keep together, but it was in vain ; 
the force broke before the mass and fled, each for himself; those who 
took the side streets were the most fortunate ; those who ran down the 
avenue were not only pursued and beaten by the mob which had charged 
on them, but had to run the fearful gauntlet of the one below. Of the 
fourteen men of this precinct engaged here, nine were injured — several 
seriously. All those who escaped reported as soon as possible to the 
station-house. 

In this battle and retreat ofiicer Bennett was knocked down three 
times before he ceased fighting ; the last time he was senseless. He was 
robbed of every article on him save his drawers, beaten savagely as he 
lay in the street, and left for dead. After the mob passed on he was 
conveyed by some strangers to St. Luke's Hospital. Here he was 
thought dead, and placed in the dead-house by order of some one in 
charge, where he remained several hours. His distracted wife, ascer- 
taining where he was, hastened to him. She could not believe him dead ; 
discovered that his heart pulsated ; flew to the officials and begged their 
aid. He was removed into the hospital buildings, restoratives applied, 



•58 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

and he revived, but remained unconscious for three days. His condition 
for some time was critical. 

Officer Travis, at the defeat and separation of the force, started down 
the avenue ; his foremost pursuer had a pistol ; he wheeled, knocked 
him down, and secured the weapon ; before he could use it others were 
on and upon him ; he fell beneath a score of clubs, was stamped, jumped 
upon, and otherwise terribly assailed ; his jaw was broken, his teeth 
knocked out, his head terribly cut, his right hand broken, and he left 
for dead, after being stripped of every article of clothing, even to shirt 
and stockings. He was subsequently carried to St. Luke's Hospital. 

The retreat down the avenue was under a shower of shot and stones. 
Officer Phillips also ran the gauntlet, recei\'ing many head and body 
blows, and, on turning into Thirty -ninth Street, made for the open door 
of a residence, but it was closed against him. At this moment one of 
his pursuers, in soldier's clothes, fired a musket, but, missing him, 
clubbed the weapon, and assailed him. The blow was caught, and the 
musket wrenched away. Phillips, almost blind with blood, and stag- 
gering from exhaustion, clubbed the fellow down, and another run for 
life was had, during which the musket was thrown over a fence ; he 
made across lots in rear of Third Avenue, to Fortieth Street, but here 
was headed off by a portion of the mob ; a woman rushed upon him, 
and making a blow at his neck with a shoemaker's knife, missed her 
mark and split his ear ; another lunge, and it made a severe wound in 
his arm. At this juncture some one, evidently of influence in that sec- 
tion, came to his rescue and threatened with death any one who made 
further attack ; he took Phillips' club, and by his determined manner 
succeeded in keeping them off and getting him to the Thirty -first Pre- 
cinct station. When the mob met him at Fortieth Street, a little fellow 
of some thirteen years sought to save him by running up, grasping his 
hand, and claiming that he was his father, beseeching them not to kill 
him. His entreaties were of no avail, and, but for the interference 
of the party mentioned, his fate would have been a hard one. 

Sergt. McCredie, on the charge, was struck on the wrist with a bar 
of iron and badly injured. On the retreat he was attacked by four men, 
and knocked down two ; he fled into the house of a German family, and 
was instantly secreted by a young woman there between two mattresses ; 
the mob soon came rushing in ; searched the house from cellar to garret 
without success ; were told that the Sergeant had ran thi'ough and 
escaped by the rear way, and left satisfied it was so. 

Officer Sutherland was knocked down with a brick, then beaten till 
insensible — from head to foot a mass of gashes and bruises. He was picked 
up when the mob left him, and conveyed to St. Luke's Hospital. Officer 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 69 

MiNGAT was badly beaten on head and body. The crowd only left him 
when they thought he was punished enough. Officer Terence Kiernan, 
after receiving a stunning blow on the back of the head with a stone, a 
blow on the back of the neck with a hay-bale rung, and a blow on each 
knee about the same moment, fell ; while prostrate and nearly insensible, 
the wife of Mr. Eagan, who saved Superintendent Kennedy, threw her- 
self on his body and cried: "For God's sake, men, do not kill him." 
This restrained the mob, and they passed on ; he, Kiernan, was carried 
into a house, minus his coat, vest, cap, and shield ; the shield was after- 
wards given to him by Mrs. Eagan, who picked it up, covered with 
blood, in the street. He was subsequently disguised and smuggled out. 
In coming down, he called at the Croton Cottage, was recognized, but, 
by a clever dodge, escaped. Not so with the cottage ; in less than an 
hour afterward it was in flames. 

Officer Broughton, on the charge, was cut in head and face, one of 
his eyes almost destroyed, but went twice into the fight after being in- 
jured. Officer Gabriel received enough body blows to make a jelly of 
him, but none that proved serious. 

While Sergt. McCreadie's section was thought safe at Forty-sixth 
Street and Third Av#nue, the ofF-platoon, imder Roundsman Thachkr, 
consisting of eighteen men, was sent to reinforce him. They reached 
the scene after the defeat, Avithout knowing of it, and were instantly and 
desperately attacked. A bold fight was, for a time, made, and a running 
retreat, in tolerably good order, ensued. The fight throughout was hand 
to hand, the men injured receiving club blows. Officer Bodine's head 
and face was a mass of wounds, and his clothes were stripped from off 
him. He was rescued and brought to the station in a wagon. Officer 
Foster was cut on the face and head, badly bruised on the body, and, 
in running the gauntlet of clubs and stones on the avenue, was knocked 
down fourteen times ; he feinted after escaping his pursuers, and was 
taken by citizens to the station. All of those who were able to, reported 
promptly at the precinct. 

Officers DiDWAY and Gibbs of this platoon arrived too late at the sta- 
tion to join it, and so followed it up. On reaching Forty-sixth Street and 
Third Avenue, and knowing nothing of the defeat of their comrades, they 
turned into the avenue, and were forthwith set upon by the mob ; they 
fought their way back as best they could. Officer Didway, after receiv- 
ing much injury, and a terrific blow on the head, which forced his eye 
out of the socket, managed to find safety in an alley- way, from whence 
he was taken to his home. Officer Gibbs fought as long as he could see, 
fell beneath the blows, and was then kicked, beaten, stoned, and left for 
dead. He was conveyed to St. Luke's Hospital by some residents of 



60 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

the vicinity so soon as the mob left him. Of the injured in these two 
fights, officers Bennett, Travis, and Gibbs were long vinable to do duty. 

In the afternoon a portion of the force were with Inspector Carpenter 
in the defeat of the mob at Broadway and Amity ; here one of the 
ringleaders was captured by Sergeant Roe, and another by officer Bar- 
hebt; both were severely punished, and were lodged in the station near 
by. Fourteen knapsacks filled with plunder were dropped on the street 
by the rioters, and taken charge of by the police. At midnight the force 
returned to its own precinct. 

On Tuesday morning to Central Office ; subsequently, with Captain 
Helme's command, to Second Avenue and Twenty-second Street. In the 
severe fight here, this command were unflinching and valuable ; Sergeant 
Blakelock was fired at, the ball grazing his cheek. Returning to the 
Central Office, were ordered to report to Inspector Leonard, at City Hall, 
and were engaged on guard and other duties thereabouts. At night 
were with Inspector Carpenter's command in the attack on mob at 
Brooks Brothers' clothing store, and on the subsequent tour and skir- 
mishes. Returned to Central Office, and thence to own precinct for the 
night. Captain Caffry received word that Broadway was infested with 
highwaymen ; Roundsman Thacher, with six men? started on patrol, and 
at one o'clock arrested three highwaymen, two of whom have since been 
sent for ten years to State Prison ; they had met, knocked down, and 
robbed a Mr. Searles, in front of the Jones House. Next morning the 
force returned to the City Hall, where they remained, engaged in divers 
duties, until Saturday, when ordered to their precinct on usual ser- 
vice. 

The Fifteenth have won great credit for the amount of services ren- 
dered and the courage and fidelity with which they were performed. 
The number of wounded in the various engagements was fifteen, of which 
eleven were very seriously injured — a greater list of casualties, probably, 
than in any other precinct. On all occasions they were willing and 
effective. Sergeant Blakelock was sick in bed when he heard of the riot, 
but at once reported himself for duty ; he served bravely through the 
week, and then went to bed again more ill than before. Sergeants 
DiLKS, McCredie, and Roe, with Roundsmen Thacher and Lefferts, 
are entitled, with the men, to all commendation, and the Captain bestows 
it lavishly. 

While on guard duty in Park, Tuesday evening, officer Hector 
Moore came across two men gai-roting a returned soldier; he arrested 
both of them, and they have since been sentenced, by Recorder Hoffman, 
to fifteen years each. Six others arrested by the officers of this precinct 
are awaiting trial for highway robbery, and two for riot. At the fight 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 186S. 61 

at Leonard Street and West Broadway, Sergeant Roe was fired at, the 
ball cutting off the tip of a finger. Sergeant Dilks was invaluable to 
his command during Riot Week, as he was to other commands to which 
he was attached. On all occasions he was cool and courageous. The first 
intimation received by the Captain of the very serious character of the 
riot was when his men came in, on retreat, bringing some of the wounded 
with them. Six doctors were at once engaged in attending to the latter. 
On the retreat of McCredie's section from Forty-sixth Street, men and 
women from adjoining houses, for want of other articles, hurled house- 
hold furniture and crockery at them. 

Sixteenth Precinct. 

Captain H. Hedden, No. 156 West Twentieth Street. At 5 P. M. 
Monday the force was at Central Office ; at night at City Hall, under 
Inspector Leonard, where employed till morning. On Tuesday morn- 
ing Captain Hedden and force were part of Inspector Dilks' command 
in the battle at the factory, Twenty-second Street and Second Avenue, 
where the officers and men had severe encounters ; the rioters, at close 
quarters, clubbed their muskets, and fought desperately ; but it was of 
no avail ; down they went and over were they run. At this time Sergeant 
Wright was disabled by a blow with the but of a musket, as was also 
officer Warner, in hand-to-hand encounters. Many others of the force 
were injured, but not seriously. 

At the above battle one of the parties of rioters attacking the Six- 
teenth were under the lead of a man who exhibited great courage ; his 
comrades were driven back and he retreated under terrific and deadly 
punishment ; turning to escape, and even then dying, as he reached the 
sidewalk he tripped on the curb and staggered head foremost on to an 
iron picket-fence ; one of the pickets entered under his chin, penetrating 
to and into the roof of his mouth. Thus horribly impaled, his head sus- 
pended, his body |,stretching to the ground, he died, — there being, by friend 
or foe, no opportunity at the time of extricating him. The attention of 
Captain Hedden was subsequently attracted to his shocking position, 
the body was taken down, and laid on the sidewalk. It was found, to 
the surprise of all, to be that of a young man of delicate features, white, 
fair skin. Although dressed as a laborer, in dirty overalls and filthy 
shirt, underneath these were fine cassimere pants, handsome rich vest, 
and fine linen shirt. He was evidently a man, in intelligence and posi- 
tion, far above those with whom he had been in fellowship. It was im- 
possible at the time to take possession of the body, as further attacks 
by the rioters were constantly expected. Nothing of the identity of the 



62 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

party is known ; the body, left with those of the others killed, found a 
grave with them. This is a suggestive incident, and, were it possible to 
have secured the remains, a revelation of great importance as to the in- 
stigators of the riots, it is thought, would have been made. 

At this same fight a rioter came rushing out of the factory having a 
carbine with sword-bayonet attached. He made a desperate assault upon 
one of the officers of the Sixteenth, the bayonet cutting through the coat- 
sleeve and just missing the arm ; withdrawing it and about to make 
another and more successful thrust, he was felled ' to the earth by 
members of this command, and died soon after. The carbine was 
so firmly clutched that it was with great difficulty taken from his grasp. 
He was accompanied from the building by a lad who clung to his coat. 
One of the officers caught him up, carried him out of harm's way, and he 
ran shrieking off* to a bevy of women who had been urging on the 
rioters. 

Tuesday evening the Sixteenth repaired to the City Hall, and were 
sent, under Captain Hedden, to Thomas Street, near West Broadway, 
where, coming upon a mob destroying the dwellings of colored people, 
they made a charge and scattered it. Before daylight, Wednesday, were 
on duty protecting Western Hotel, Courtlandt Street ; the mob here fled 
to Greenwich Street, and, re-collecting, attempted to break in and rob a 
shoe store there ; this precinct followed and beat them oflf; in the course 
of the melee pistols were used by the mob, but without effect. This force 
also repaired to the U. S. Bonded Warehouse, Greenwich Street, which 
was being attacked; onnearing it they received a volley of shots from 
the rioters, but made a bold charge, and, after a brisk fight, drove 
them off. The mob had broken into the building and were about setting 
fire to it when Captain Hedden and his command assailed them. 

On Wednesday evening Sergeant Wright and ten men were detailed 
to the United States Marshal's office, where they remained till Saturday. 
The balance of the force, on Wednesday, did escort duty at the funeral 
of Brig.-Gen. Weed, and afterward were sent to Hudson and North 
Moore Streets, where a crowd threatening a mission school was punished 
and driven off; thence a march was taken through the Fifth Precinct, 
and all gatherings dispersed ; in the evening they visited Pier No. 4, 
North River, and prevented a renewal of the outrages there. This closed 
the active duty of the Sixteenth ; it remained in reserve at the Hall until 
Saturday morning, when ordered to its own quarters. 

The Sixteenth, officers and men, emulated each other in effectively 
doing all they had to do, and found no risks too great to encounter, no 
duties too arduous to perform. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. QS 



Seventeenth Precinct. 

Capt, S. Brower, First Avenue, corner of Fifth Street. Early on 
Monday morning the Captain, with his force, reported to Capt, Porter, 
at Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue. When reaching there the 
crowd was not large, but soon the rioters assembled in force, coming in 
fifties and hundreds from different sections, until swelled to thousands of 
excited men armed with clubs and other weapons. The first overt act 
was the stoppage of the Third Avenue cars, the taking off of the driver 
and horses, and compelling the passengers to get out. The force at- 
tempted to prevent this, but were driven back. Then ensued an attack 
on the Marshal's office, a shower of stones breaking doors and windows, 
and finally the mob rushed into the building, beating back the small 
force who valiantly opposed them, until flight or death werethe alterna- 
tives. The force retreated into Forty -sixth Street, where they were en- 
gaged in saving the occupants of the building and their property — the 
premises having been fired — until they were again beaten back by over- 
whelming numbers. Sergeant Finch arrived about this time and took 
command, Capt. Brower going to the station-house. The Sergeant 
made, with his force, a charge upon the mob, but failed to disperse them, 
and received a severe gash from a blow on the forehead, which subse- 
quently laid him up, and his force was compelled to retreat. The mob 
was a huge on^, thousands composing it, and the opposing force, bravely 
as they did, were entirely inadequate. After the discomfiture here, they 
reported to headquarters, and in the evening, under Capt. Brower, were 
at the Park with Inspector Carpenter, where they made havoc upon the 
mob in the grand charge heretofore detailed ; thence through Fourth 
Ward and to Central Office for the night. On Tuesday this precinct 
joined Capt. Petty's command in the visit to the soap factory in Six- 
teenth Street, and aided in restoring order in that section. They were 
also with Capt. Helme's hazardous expedition in the Second Avenue, and 
took a liberal hand in the severe fight there ; they were among those 
storming the building in which the stolen guns were stored, taking it 
after a savage fight, and recovering a large number of arms. At night 
Sergt. Slote and ten men were detailed for duty to Gen. Wool, re- 
maining until quiet was restored. At midnight Capt. Brower took com- 
mand of one hundred and fifty men, marching through the Eleventh, 
Thirteenth, and Seventeenth Precincts, returning to headquarters 
Wednesday morning. At 9 A. M., in command of his own and the 
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Precinct forces, he proceeded to the scene 
of riot and murder in Thirty-second Street, between Sixth and Seventh 



M: SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Avenues, dispersing the crowd andu recovering the body of the colored 
man hung there, bringing it to headquarters. 

This was the last of the active duties. In the Forty-sixth Street 
battle Sergeant Finch was severely injured ; Sergeant Slote was, sub- 
sequently, the only officer acting with Capt. Brower, Sergeant Griffith 
being deputed to the telegraph office, and Sergeant Weith left in charge 
of the station-house. The conduct of every man was, throughout, of the 
most creditable character, and the Captain alleges that he wants to lead 
no better men in any emergency, never mind how great. 

At the fight on Forty-sixth Street, the force were, of course, power- 
less. Officer Hill was badly hurt ; officer Weill was so badly injured 
as long to be unable to resume duty ; and some four or five others were 
wounded. On this occasion women were active in urging on the rioters. 
The fight was hand to hand, and the force did bravely against over- 
powering numbers. 

When the force was in Second ^venue fight under Capt. Helme, after 
the charge upon and capture of the building where the stolen arms 
were secreted, officer Tyler secured a gun ; he coolly went into the 
street, and procuring from a soldier, whom he found in the vicinity, 
several rounds of ammunition, loaded his piece, and then started, 
alone, down Twenty-second Street toward First Avenue, where the mob 
had retreated, firing upon them until his ammunition was exhausted. 
He was all this while made a target of from the mob and from houses 
on the street, but escaped unharmed. Officer Tyler had been under 
fire at Bull Run, and brought the experience of " shot and shell " home 
with him. His bravery was the subject of laudation among the officers 
and men of his precinct. 

Eighteenth Precinct. 

Capt. John Cameron, No. 163 East Twenty -second Street. This 
precinct is in the heart of the lately infected district, and the station- 
house was destroyed by the mob. On Monday the Captain had great 
trouble in calling in his men, because of the many who had individual 
interests to look after in the care of their families and property, both, 
from their connection, being threatened. Early in the morning Sergt. 
VosBURGH, with a section of men, was sent to the riot at Forty-sixth 
Street and Third Avenue. Here, with the overpowering mob, they had 
a severe fight, in which officer Wynne was severely beaten about the 
head and stabbed in the arm — was hurt the worst of any of the force, 
and was conveyed to the hospital ; officer Larue, so injured as to be 
laid up for several days; officer Sanderson beaten, and his clothes 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 65 

nearly all torn off, and others more cfr less injured. The force, when at. 
tacked, was on its way to join Capt. Porter, but found it impossible to 
do so ; after a brave struggle, they were compelled to retreat and scatter, 
making their way back to the station as best they could. In the after- 
noon a number of the force, under Sergeant Banfield, took charge of 
the Armory on Second Avenue, until relieved by the Broadway Squad. 

At 5.30 P. M. Capt. Cameron reported with force at Central Office, 
Sergeant Buckman and three men being left at station. Remained at 
headquarters over night, and on Tuesday were engaged with the com- 
mand under Inspector Dilks, in the attack on the mob at the Second 
Avenue factory, and the ■ storming of the building filled with armed 
rioters. Subsequently, the Captain, with his force, was on the expedi- 
tion to the soap factory in Sixteenth Street, which had been threatened, 
and then, with Capt. Helme's command, to Second Avenue and Twenty- 
second Street again, where such severe fighting and such perils, as al- 
ready described, occurred and were encountered. At night, held in re- 
serve at headquarters. 

On Wednesday Sergeant Vosburgh, with the force, formed part of 
Capt. Brower's command, which visited Thirty-second Street, near Sixth 
Avenue, and recovered the body of the negro hung there. On the same 
day the force was divided — a portion ordered to report to Capt. Speight, 
Twenty-ninth Precinct, and a portion to Capt. Hutchings, Yorkville. 
Capt. Cameron remained at headquarters, where his services were active 
and valuable. On Wednesday night Officers McCort and McVay, of 
this precinct, did guide duty for the military on the march through First 
Avenue, and were in the disastrous conflict in which Col. Jardink was 
so seriously injured and the military driven back. 

On Thursday, what few of the force remained at headquarters as- 
sisted the detectives in arresting one of the ringleaders of the mobs — the 
notorious Andrews — in a colored rendezvous in East Eleventh Street. 
On Friday the force sent to Yorkville returned, as did those sent to 
Capt. Speight, and went on guard duty in the vicinity of headquarters. 
On Saturday the force were detailed to usual duty in their own precinct ; 
their own quarters had been burned down, and they found temporary 
ones at the Central Office. 

Sergeant Buckman, with three men, were left in charge of the station- 
house on Monday. An immense mob, the accumulations from down- 
town and up along the East River, had passed and threatened it in the 
morning, but made no serious demonstrations against it that day. On 
Tuesday Sergeant Burden relieved Sergeant Buckman, and about 44- 
o'clock P. M. received a visit from the mob ; with his men he barricaded 
the windows and doors as best he could, and then they made their escape 
5 



66 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

through the prison in the rear, having to pry off the iron bars of a win- 
dow, and into Twenty-third Street. The mob soon after broke in and 
set fire to the station ; the bellringer on the adjacent tower struck the 
alarm once, but was threatened with instant death if he did not cease 
and abdicate ; both of which he very sensibly consented to do. 

When the Broadway Squad were attacked, and likely to be over- 
whelmed in the gun factory. Sergeant Buckman, in citizen's dress, made 
his way to the building, and, by direction of Capt. Cameron, advised 
their retreat from it, which was successfully made. After the fight with 
the Broadway Squad at this armory — and the record, when reached, will 
show how bravely this squad behaved — Capt. Cameron sent a number 
of his men, in police uniform, with sedan chairs, to take charge of the 
killed and wounded of the rioters. The mob allowed the police to en- 
ter into their very midst, offered them, on their errand of mercy, no 
molestation, and three of the misguided victims were taken by them to 
Bellevue Hospital. The Captain placed his faith for the safety of his 
men on the " sedans," and he was right. In this fight some seven or 
eight of the rioters, who, on the mob gaining entrance, had rushed up 
stairs, were burned to death, their comrades having fired the building 
from below. 

On returning from the hospital, to which he had been aiding in 
carrying one of the rioters, officer Grubelstein was set upon and 
chased by a mob in Twenty -fourth Street ; he jumped over divers fences, 
and reached Twenty-third Street — here again met, he ran for Third Ave- 
nue, thence to Twenty-first street, and into a lager-bier saloon, where he 
was for a while secreted ; came out and was again recognized and given 
chase to ; managed to evade his pursuers and jump into a cellar, where 
he remained until dark, when he made his way to his home. He was 
much hurt by the pelting from stones, sprained his ankle in getting over 
the fences, and was laid up for several days. This was his return for 
carrying the wounded of the mob to the hospital. 

Since early Monday morning it was unsafe for a policeman to show 
himself. While on post Monday, before riot had developed, officer Ar- 
Noux was attacked by a gang ; he managed to escape to the station 
minus hat, club, and portions of his clothing. The officers and men of 
this precinct lost, in the destruction of the station-house, from $3,000 to 
14,000 in bedding, clothing, and other personal property. Not an article 
was saved. 

The record of the Eighteenth shows hard and constant duty and 
much personal loss and injury. They were in critical positions fre- 
quently, but were always equal to them, and throughout contributed 
largely to the honorable repute which the entire force has made for itself. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 18e«. 67 



IVinetcentli Precinct. 

Capt. G. T. Porter, East Fifty-ninth Street, near Third Avenue. 
The riots commenced in this precinct, an excited crowd collecting, about 
9 o'clock A. M., at the Provost Marshal's office, corner of Forty-sixth 
Street and Third Avenue. This was soon swelled by arrivals from all 
directions, until thousands had assembled, many of them armed with 
clubs and other weapons, and all demonstrative of mischief. Capt. Por- 
ter repaired to the office, stationing a portion of his force — in all sixty 
men — in front, and the balance inside of the building. The drafting 
commenced at 10^ A. M., and was uninterrupted for some twentv min- 
utes. Meantime the mob outside, increased to huge proportions, were 
feeding their excitement with threats and execrations, and suddenly 
turned their attention to the Third Avenue cars, one of which was pass- 
ing down. The cry "Stop the cars !" was raised, a rush was made, the 
drivers taken off, horses detached, and the passengers compelled to abdi- 
cate, two of them relieved of their watches; a section of the police went 
to the rescue, and were assailed with clubs and stones, overpowered and 
driven back. Having committed the first overt act the mob became 
frenzied, and at once made a rush on to the Marshal's office, assailing 
the force on the street, driving them into the building, and showering 
into the windows stones and all kinds of missiles. To fight or to keep 
at bay the thousands was an impossibility. The Marshal and his clerks, 
with the police. Mere driven back with clubs through the building, and 
escaped from the rear. In a few moments the furniture was destroyed, 
piled up and fired, and the building was in flames so speedily that two 
families living up stairs barely escaped with their lives. The police 
repaired to the adjoining buildings and attempted to save the property 
in them. They were fiercely attacked and driven away. The firemen 
reached the scene, but were prevented from doing anything. The Chief 
EngiifBer was present, and addressed the mob, urging them to alloAv the 
firemen to go to work. Meantime the fire had spread rapidly, and three 
of a row of brick buildings were in flames ; the mob yielded to Chief 
Decker's appeal, the companies went to work, and the fourth house was 
saved. It was about this time that the rioters made the first serious 
demonstrations against the police. Hitherto, in the progress to arson 
and pillage, they had driven them away, but had not concentrated against 
them ; now they massed on the Third Avenue, and made a furious attack 
on the force with pistols, clubs, and stones. Very soon officer Cook 
was knocked down and seriously injured, and several others badly hurt. 
The aid sent to Capt. Porter from below could not reach him, and were 



68 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

themselves engaged with another portion of the mob ; resistance against 
the overwhelming numbers was madness, and, after a brief but gallant 
fight, the force broke and fled, the mob masters of the situation. The 
men recollected at the station-house, and, in citizens' dress, revisited the 
section where they were defeated, and succeeded in bringing off those of 
the injured who had remained there. In the evening the entire force 
were ordered to headquarters, and with Sergeant Copeland's command 
visited Clarkson Street, for the recovery of the body of a colored man 
murdered there. 

Tuesday, a portion of the Nineteenth, under Sergts. Bumstead and 
Holmes, were, with Inspector Dilks' command, on its expedition to 
Second Avenue and Twenty-second Street, and were engaged in the 
severe and obstinate fight there. Subsequently, under Sergts. Bumstead 
and FuLMER, a portion revisited that vicinity with Capt. Helme's com- 
mand, and were again participants in another severe engagement, and 
were of the storming party which carried the building filled with rioters. 
About daylight on Wednesday, Capt. Porter took his command, and 
made a tour through the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Wards, and later 
they were with force sent to recover the body of the colored man mur- 
dered at Seventh Avenue and Thirty-second Street. About noon, Sergt. 
Bumstead, with squad, made an onslaught upon a gang at Bleecker and 
Thompson, who were bent on destruction of dwellings thereabouts. A 
brisk charge and liberal use of the locusts sent them in all directions. 

On Thursday the force was returned to its own precinct, where Ser- 
geant Decker had, with two or three men, been left in command. 

The Nineteenth was the force first attacked by the rioters, and they 
were in all the principal engagements. The officers and men exhibited 
an alacrity in responding to calls upon them, and a steady courage 
throughout which rendered them reliable and valuable. 



Twentieth Precinct. • 

Capt. G. W. Walling, No. 352 West Thirty-fifth Street. Early 
Monday the reserve of the Twentieth were sent to the Seventh Avenue 
Arsenal, where it remained till noon, and in the afternoon Capt. Wal- 
ling, with Sergeants Eooney and Carey, reported at headquarters with 
force. In the evening made an expedition to the Eighth Ward, which 
was found quiet, and thence reported to Inspector Leonard, at the City 
Hall. Were engaged in the scouting expeditions sent out by the In- 
spector, and in the guard duty done in the vicinity of the Hall. Tuesday 
morning were returned to Central Office. From here made an expedi- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 69 

tion to Pitt Street, but too late to have a hand in punishing the mob, 
the military, a short time before, having met, fired upon and killed a 
number of them. On return to headquarters this force were sent to the 
upper part of the city, in the vicinity of the Twentieth Ward, where the 
mobs were reported as having it all their own way. Allerton's Hotel, 
Eleventh Avenue, between Fortieth and Forty-first Street, had been 
sacked and burned ; a body of military had been beaten, many of the 
soldiers wounded, and a number of their guns taken away. Hearing that 
the Sixth Avenue Railroad stables were being attacked, Capt. Walling 
hurried with his force to them. The report proved untrue, but he re- 
ceived information that the rioters were in Forty -seventh Street, near 
Fifth Avenue, attacking the fine private residences there. Thither the 
force went on the double quick, coming with a rush upon the mob, a 
portion of which had just forced an entrance into the basement of Dr. 
Ward's residence, while other portions were at work on other dwellings. 
The rioters ran on the first charge. The force broke into squads of 
threes and fours, giving vigorous chase ; every man with a club or other 
weapon who was overtaken was clubbed to the sidewalk, and laid there. 
The streets were speckled with the carcasses of such. Many dropped 
their weapons, but did not escape the penalty for carrying them. The 
route was complete ; the punishment inflicted severe. The sole purpose 
of this mob was robbery. They were interrupted just as the spoils were 
thought secure. Up to this period they had undisputed sway, had been 
doing an immense amount of damage, and kept that entire section of the 
city in a state of terror. The force reunited at Forty-seventh Street and 
Fifth Avenue. It was here ascertained that when Capt. Putnam's regu- 
lars were in that vicinity, one of them, who was sick, had fallen behind 
and been set upon by the mob ; he was knocked down, beaten, kicked, 
and then thrown senseless over a fence into a lot on the Fifth Avenue. 
Capt. Walling and his force hunted him up, and he was conveyed to 
Bellevue Hospital. The force returned to the Twentieth Precinct Sta- 
tion-house, where, matters looking threateningly on Ninth Avenue, dis- 
patches for military aid were sent by Capt. Walling. The mob had 
cut down the telegraph poles on Ninth Avenue from Thirty-seventh to 
Forty -third Street, and had used the wire in fastening wagons and carts 
together, making barricades of them across the avenue at Thirty-seventh 
and Forty-third Streets, and at the junctions of the intervening streets. 
At 6 P. M. Capt. Wesson's regulars arrived at the station-house. Capt. 
Slott (of the Twenty-second Precinct) took command of a body of the 
police, and, with the military in the rear, marched to the avenue and 
Thirty-seventh Street. Here the force made an attempt to remove the 
barricades, but were met with a discharge of firearms and stones from 



70 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

the rioters beyond. They had to fall back ; the military advanced to 
the right and fired several volleys ; the mob retreated, and the police, 
again advancing, removed the barricade. Soon after they were again 
rallied on by the mob, and the military again took the right, loading and 
firing as they advanced, the mob falling back, finally fleeing, and the 
police removing each barricade as it was reached. This work done and 
the force returned to the station-house, where it was held in reserve. At 
9 P. M. an attack was made upon a gun and hardware store in Thirty- 
seventh Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues ; Sergt. Petty, with 
a force, was soon there, and soon had the thieves flying, save three who 
were left senseless on the sidewalk. At midnight a mob attacked the 
colored church in Thirtieth Street,"^ between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. 
Capt. Walling, with his entire force, came upon them while busily en- 
gaged with axes in the work of destruction ; they had concluded not to 
burn the church lest some premises thereabout occupied by their friends 
would be injured ; so the axe was brought into requisition, and right 
actively being used. The force charged upon the mob unexpectedly, but 
were met with a discharge of guns and pistols from the street, alleys, 
and doorways. The fire was returned, and the clubs resorted to ; 
scores of heads were cracked, many of the lawless were stretched at 
length, and in a few moments there was not an " upright " rioter to be 
seen. 

This was the last of the more active duties of the Twentieth ; they 
continued at the station-house doing scouting duty, and making some 
expeditions until Saturday, then resuming regular patrol. The services 
of this force were of the greatest value ; they were in a badly infected 
vicinity, had hazardous and arduous duty to perform, and have made for 
themselves, by their faithful and brave discharge of it, an honorable name 
in and out of the department. 

Sergeant Petty was left in charge of the station, and, just as the 
force on Monday evening was leaving for headquarters. Superintendent 
Davis, of the Colored Orphan Asylum, led into the station two hundred 
and sixteen of the children, none over twelve years of age, who had escaped 
from their home by the rear as the dastardly and infamous mob forced 
an entrance in front and fired the building. These little ones would 
undoubtedly have been assailed had they not been hurriedly guided 
away. They were sadly terrified on reaching the station, but were re- 
assured, housed and kindly cared for by Sergeant Petty until sent to 
the Island. 

When the force were returning to the station from the severe usage 
of the thieves at Forty-seventh Street and Fifth Avenue, sundry women 
on Fifth Avenue, on Thirty-fifth Street, and on Sixth Avenue, assailed 
them as " Moody murderers," &c., &c. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 71 

On Wednesday evening some women visited the station, stating that 
they had soldiers secreted in their houses, who had thus escaped the fury 
of the mob on Tueschiy, when the military were defeated in the vicinity 
of Allerton's Hotel. Capt, Wallinc sent a coach, with an officer in 
citizen's dress, and collected three, returning them to the Arsenal. The 
coach, while on Fortieth Street, was attacked by the mob, the windows 
and doors broken in with stones, but, with a courageous driver and good 
horses, got off without further damage. 

When the force hurried to Forty-seventh Street and Fifth Avenue, 
on the mob about to sack residences there, they met crowds of women 
and children with bags and baskets, waiting on Sixth Avenue, above 
Forty-sixth Sti'eet, for the word to join in and gather the plunder. After 
the fight these women were busy attending the wounded. 

On Thursday morning at 2 o'clock, a party of four or five of the force 
discovered a gang which had broken into a pawnbroker's shop in Thirty- 
ninth Street, near Eighth Avenue, and were rifling it ; they had secured 
a number of guns and sabres, when this small force made a dash upon 
them, beat them badly, and recovered all the property. 

On Tuesday afternoon, Capt. Walling, while alone and reconnoiter- 
ing at Thirty-fifth Street and Eighth Avenue, saw three men staving in 
the door of Mr. Reiser's hardware store. Eighth Avenue, above Thirty- 
fifth Street. He ran up and grappled one of them, and, dealing a pow- 
erful blow with his club, knocked him down ; an officer came to his aid, 
and disarmed another, wlio, with his companion, escaped. The fellow 
knocked down was got on to his feet by some friends, and helped, stag- 
gering along, to Thirty-sixth Street, where he fell senseless ; he was 
bundled into a wagon and carted off. When the Captain made this 
attack, a mob was awaiting, at the corner of Thirty -sixth Street, the 
success of their comrades' attempt to break open the store, when they 
would have rushed to its pillage. 

Sergeant Petty several times, during the absence of the force, was 
threatened with destruction of the station-house, but made excellent 
preparations for a sturdy defence, by barricading, &c. At one time he 
had over four hundred refugees under his chai'ge, and all were made 
comfortable, and given an abundance to eat. 

Twenty-first Precinct. 

Capt. A. M. Palmer, No. 120 East Thirty-fifth Street. The Cap- 
tain, with his command, was in the battle with the mob on the morning 
of Monday, at the Provost Marshal's office, Forty-sixth street and Third 
Avenue. All the forces engaged, it will be recollected, were repulsed. 



72 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE | 

On the return to the station, the Captain went home, and, in consequence 
of the stoppage of the Third Avenue cars, could not get back again until 
Tuesday morning, when he reported with his command to the Central 
Office. The force was with Capt. Petty's command on that morning at 
the disturbance in the vicinity of Sixteenth Street and Tenth Avenue, and 
the balance of the day and night on general duty at the Central Office. 
On Wednesday morning they were returned to their own precinct, and 
in the afternoon the Captain, being sick, went home, and Sergeant Brack- 
ETT took command. The force were kept in reserve in the precinct, por- 
tions being constantly on valuable scouting and picket duty. All that 
night and all Thursday were gangs around, armed with clubs and other 
weapons, threatening dwellings, howling, hooting, and terrifying citizens ; 
the stores were all closed and terror reigned. Sergeant Brackett's well- 
arranged plans of operating in detail, boldly seconded by his men, pre- 
vented any concentration or more serious demonstration during this 
period. At 7 P. M. Thursday, officer Chandler was brought to the 
station badly beaten, and was thence conveyed to the Bellevue Hospital. 
He had been attacked at Thirty-fourth Street and Second Avenue by a 
gang, against which he made manful fight, but uselessly. During the 
night the Sergeant and his force continued on the qui vive, and no out- 
rages occurred. They were in squads, here, there, everywhere, and, 
although in an infected district, by their promptness, activity and intelli- 
gent movements, frustrated attempts at outrage. 

On Friday morning Sergeant Brackett in command, with Sergeant 
Hastings and thirty -five men, repaired to Thirty-ninth Street and Second 
Avenue ; the Seventh Regiment was their escort ; the block between Thir- 
ty-ninth and Fortieth Streets, and the First and Second Avenues, were 
surrounded by the military. This was a thoroughly riotous district, and 
the police went to work entering every house and searching it for goods 
stolen during the riots, from the cellar to and on the roof. Not a room, 
a closet, a cubby-hole, or a " between beds" was missed : every nook, 
corner and hole was investigated ; sometimes the inmates were searched 
with success ; the explorations were continued in similar manner to Thii-- 
ty-third Street, each block being surrounded by the military. At 4 P. 
M. the military were unfortunately withdrawn and the search had to 
cease. But an immense amount of property had been recovered, among 
it a full wagon load of fire-arms, bayonets, pikes, &,c., in all 173 pieces ; 
furniture, groceries, dry goods, &e., &c., comprised the rest. Among con- 
traband articles taken were five steel-headed clubs, villainous and mur- 
derous weapons, which the owners had prepared for their work of murder 
and robbery. On Friday search by squads was renewed and another 
large amount recovered, among it some $400 worth of the property of 



I DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. Y3 

the sla\ightered Col. O'Brien, found at a house in E. Thirty-fourth Street, 
where the thieves secreted it. This active work was kept up for several 
days, and with constant success. Sergeant Vaughan with fourteen men, 
and Roundsman Moore with six, each in different portions of the precinct, 
recovered thousands of dollars' worth. The catalogue of the goods re- 
taken by the Twenty-first would make a large volume. 

Although this force had but one encounter with the mob, their services 
in their precinct were invaluable. They prevented many serious demon- 
strations, and in the duty of recovering goods were zealous and unflinching, 
notwithstanding its hazardous and unpleasant character. They have saved 
many thousands of dollars, by their efficient discharge of this duty, to the 
treasury. 

Sergeant Brackett, on whom the command devolved, is entitled to 
great credit for the sagacity characterizing his action throughout, while 
his associate officers and the men have won a full share of the honors on 
the record. 

Twenty-second Precinct. 

Capt. J. C. Slott, Forty-seventh Street, between Eighth and Ninth 
Avenues. On Monday morning Sergeant William M. Gross and 
twelve men reported to Capt. Porter, at the Marshal's Office, Forty- 
sixth Street and Third Avenue. Here was the first serious demonstra- 
tion of the mob, and the first attack upon the police, in which the latter 
were defeated by overwhelming numbers ; this force returned soon after 
noon to the station. Capt. Slott, with Sergeants Aldis, Potter, and 
Murphy, and the command, reported at headquarters in the evening, 
from whence they accompanied Inspector Carpenter and force to the 
Park ; participated in the charge upon the Printing-house Square mob, 
and contributed to the strewing of the ground with the bodies of the 
lawless and riotous. Thence were on the tour through the Fourth 
Ward, at the fight in Roosevelt Street, and the subsequent skirmishes. 
At midnight were at headquarters again, but soon after sent to the Twen- 
tieth Precinct Station to protect it and its hundreds of refugees. They 
remained here until Thursday, when ordered to their own precinct. 
Meantime, however, they had participated with the Twentieth in the ac- 
tive, vigorous fight with the mob which, at midnight Tuesday, were at- 
tempting to destroy the colored church in Thirtieth Street, between 
Seventh and Eighth Avenues. They went into this under " shot and 
shell," but every man with a will and determination that largely aided 
in the speedy and, to the rioters, costly victory. This command was 
also in the storming of the barricades in Ninth Avenue, from Thirty- 



74 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE * 

seventh to Forty-third Street. Capt. Slott, of the Twenty-second, was 
in command of the police here, and, after a charge made under a shower 
of bricks and shot, only withdrew his men long enough to let the mili- 
tary discharge a volley, when the force pressed forward again, took and 
removed them. So, nearly all the way up, on approaching each barri- 
cade, were they under fire from street or house-tops, but made a clean 
sweep of all the obstructions. Several of the rioters were killed in this 
engagement. The force returned to the Twentieth Station. In the af- 
ternoon of Wednesday, Capt. Slott made an expedition to Forty -second 
Street and Tenth Avenue, clearing the coast there ; subsequently, Sergt. 
Alois was sent with command to Twenty -seventh Street and Seventh 
Avenue, where rioters were rampant, did the work, of dispersal thor- 
oughly ; on returning, when near the arsenal, was ordered by Gen. 
Sandford to take his force and a company of military, then awaiting 
him, to Forty-second Street and Tenth Avenue, where the mob had 
again gathered, and were threatening to burn the residence of Mr. 
Campbell. He at once wheeled, and with the added force of military, 
hurried up. The force was, on arrival, greeted with shouts of defiance, 
and with shots and missiles from doors, windows, and house-tops, as 
well as from the street. He halted, and tried a little moral suasion, 
begged of the rioters to desist and to retire ; they gave him no heed, and 
the officer in command of the military made a similar appeal. The only 
responses, save from a few who got out of the way, were renewed yells 
and volleys. The military then wheeled into sections on the avenue, one 
facing up the other down, the police in the center, and opened fire. Men 
were shot down in the street, some picked off from the house-tops, and 
others from the windows, where they had been actively firing. In a few 
moments the mob was entirely dispersed, leaving their dead lying in the 
streets uncared for. This ended the " battle-field " operation of the 
Twenty-second, who were relieved from the Twentieth Precinct on 
Thursday, retiring to their own on ordinary duty. Capt. Walling, of 
the Twentieth, speaks in eulogistic terms of the valuable services of this 
command while at his precinct, and the history of their arduous and re- 
sponsible duties, so well performed, more than justify him. Every call 
was promptly, cheerfully, and bravely met, and more honor won by 
them for an organization which is now laden with honors. 

Twenty-third Precinct. 

Capt. Henry Hutchings, East Eighty-sixth Street, near Fifth Ave- 
nue. The force of this precinct were, on Monday, left without orders, 
in consequence of the cutting of telegraph wires, until about 6 P. M., 



i DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 75 

when a special messenger brought orders to report at the Central Office. 
Promptly starting, they were in time to be with Inspector Carpen- 
ter's command on its visit to the mob in the Park and Printing-house 
Square, and to join in the compliments so liberally bestowed upon the 
heads of the fleeing rascals. The force were on duty with the Inspector 
until returned to headquarters at midnight, and soon after were ordered 
under Sergt. Copeland, to the recovery of the body of the negro hun^ 
in Clarkson Street. This duty was performed in a rain drenching every 
man to the skin, and, as they were returning to head([uarters, the com- 
mand received the information that Mr. Wakeman's house, on Eighty- 
seventh Street, opposite their station, had been sacked and fired, that 
the station-house had also been consumed, and every article belonging 
to the force stolen or burned. Doorman Ebling, who was left in charge, 
managed to save the telegraph instrument, but that was all. This en- 
tailed heavy loss upon officers and men. 

Before they had breakfasted on Tuesday, this force w^ere with Inspec- 
tor Carpenter on the expedition in Second Avenue. At Thirty-fifth 
Street an assault was made on the rear, and simultaneously, with guns 
and missiles, from the tops and windows of a block of tenement houses 
on the avenue. Here the charge w^as ordered by Inspector Carpenter 
upon the houses, and during it fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued. A 
portion of the Twenty -third were among the assaulting party — the bal- 
ance being busily engaged with the mob on the street. On this occa- 
sion a large number of the rioters were so punished as never to be able 
again to participate in similar scenes ; they fought desperately when 
finding themselves cornered in the houses, and the orders were " no pris- 
oners." In the afternoon a portion of the force, under Sergeant Hicks, 
was ordered to Broadway, by Commissioner Acton, to employ or press 
into service for the Commissioners thirty-two stages. The force secured 
fourteen, being all they could find running. During the night the men 
were repeatedly called in readiness for duty, but were not required. 
On Wednesday morning it was thought necessary for the force to return 
to Yorkville to their own precinct, which they did, reaching it by steam- 
boat at 1 P. M. On landing, arriving at Fourth Avenue and Eighty- 
sixth Street, they were greeted by the citizens enthusiastically. The 
mob had, for two days and nights, been rioting there, unrestrained ; uni- 
versal alai-m prevailed, and neither lives nor property were safe. Where 
the excesses would end no one could tell, and this opportune arrival of 
those who would and could protect them caused the greatest relief and 
a general joy. All was quiet in the precinct after their arrival ; active 
patrol and scouting duty were performed during the balance of the week. 
A portion of the force was at once engaged in making search for stolen 



76 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

property, and succeeded in recovering a large amount — among it most 
of Mr. Wakeman's valuable library. A number of the rioters and 
thieves were also arrested, while the search was being prosecuted. 

During the absence of the force the rioters had sacked and burned 
Mr. Wakeman's residence, had sacked and burned Mr. Grey's, and had 
sacked the dwelling of Provost-Marshal Nugent ; the station-house had 
been burned, as had the large grocery store of Messrs. Metter & Dem- 
AREST, which was pillaged of a very large amount of goods ere it was 
given to the flames. The rioters and thieves had no opposition offered 
them for the first forty-eight hours, and much money had been obtained 
from citizens, on whom they called and demanded certain amounts under 
threat of destruction of their persons or their property. All this the 
presence of the force promptly put an end to. 

While acting from headquarters, the Twenty -third were prompt, ac- 
tive, gallant, and their efficiency was felt in all the services in which they 
were engaged. In what repute they are held at home is evidenced by 
the cordial reception on their return, and by the immediate fleeing of the 
villains whom their absence had encouraged to acts of outrage and 
plunder. 

Twenty-fouith Precinct. 

Captain James Todd, Steamboat No. 1 . The force of this precinct con- 
stitute the Harbor Police. On the morning of Monday Captain Todd, 
on hearing of the riot, volunteered his command for service in any way 
useful. The first order received was about noon, from Major-Gen. 
Wool, to collect all the military at Governor's Island, and bring them 
to the city, which was promptly obeyed, and the troops landed at North 
Moore Street at 2^ P. M. In the afternoon special duties were per- 
formed between the city and the island ; arms and ammunition were 
brought over for the Custom House, Sub-Treasury, and other Govern- 
ment buildings ; others were furnished by this force for the defence of 
the ram Dunderberg, lying near Webb's ship-yard, and which had been 
threatened with destruction ; muskets were also brought for the defence 
of the buildings threatened at Printing-house Square. Patrolman 
Blackwell performed a hazardous duty in the conveyance of the arms 
from the landing to their destination, but did it with a sagacity which 
prevented suspicion, and prevented in every case interference. At mid- 
night, by request of Col. O'Brien, this force went to Governor's Island, 
procured arms and ammunition, and conveyed them to four hundred men 
of his command then at Staten Island Ferry ; thus at 4 A. M., armed 
and equipped, they were enabled to be in the city. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 77 

Tuesday the force started to Riker's Island to bring down five hundred 
of the military from that place; carried an artillery company to Gov- 
ernor's Island, where it was provided with guns and ammunition, and 
thence to the city. The balance of the day and until Wednesday morn- 
ing, constantly and rapidly steaming from point to point on the river, 
keeping watchful eyes on all quarters. On Wednesday morning large 
bodies of police and soldiers were carried to Yorkville and to Harlem • 
in the afternoon Captain Wilson and his force were conveyed to Washing- 
ton Heights. At all these places the appearance of " Police Boat No. 1 " 
with its freight, was joyously hailed. At 10.30 P. M., while patrolling 
the river, the fire at the Atlantic Dock Elevators was discovered. Capt. 
Todd at once ran his boat to the spot, and commenced throwing water 
from the engine on board upon it ; it was of no use ; the force fought the 
fire until they were driven off by the heat, their own safety endangered ; 
then attention was turned to saving other property ; three Government 
prizes loaded with cotton were in proximity to the flames ; the force 
speedily grappled them and towed them into the bay, where they were 
anchored. Returning to the scene of the fire, again were in service there 
attempting to extinguish it, until daylight, when off'to Riker's Island, from 
whence more troops were brought to the city. Thursday was occupied, 
by order of General Sandford, in bringing troops from the islands, con- 
veying some four hundred colored refugees — the orphans among them — 
to Blackwell's Island ; carrying arms and ammunition to Harlem for a vol- 
unteer corps there, and patrolling the river. On this day this force 
were parties to the rescue of the colored man beaten and thrown over- 
board at Pier No. 4, North River ; the man was taken on board the 
police boat and brought ashore. On Friday a large number of " con- 
trabands " were taken to Blackwell's Island, and active patrol duty per- 
formed. When Captain Todd took his first and largest cargo of contra- 
bands on board, the excitement against them being high, he adopted 
every expedient to keep them out of sight. They were stowed on the boat 
in most admirable style, and not a " woolly head " would have been re- 
cognized as on board. How he did it ; how he compressed so much flesh 
and blood in the limited space at his disposal, was as much a matter of 
curiosity to him as to others. 

While the Twenty-fourth was not in any of the conflicts of the week, 
the services of the force were active, arduous, and wearisome ; they were, 
too, of the utmost value, especially in the rapid pouring of troops into 
the city, and in the prompt supplies of arms and ammunition. The saving 
of the Government prizes at the Atlantic Docks was important service. 
Captain Todd and his men have established the great value of this arm 
of the service, and the public acknowledge their obligations for services 
so willingly, faithfully performed, and so preservative of its safety. 



78 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Twenty-fifth Precinct. 

Captain Mills, No. 300 Mulberry Street. The force of this precinct 
is popularly known as the " Broadway Squad." The Captain was absent 
on leave during the Riot Week, and the command devolved on Sergeant 
BuRDiCK. At noon the Sergeant, Roundsmen Ferris "and Sherwood, 
with thirty-two men, reported to Captain Cameron, of the Eighteenth, 
and were ordered to the care of the gun factory at Twenty-first Street 
and Second Avenue, with orders to hold it at all hazards until aid ar- 
rived. The men reached the establishment by going singly or in pairs, 
thus escaping the serious attention of the mob, which was rapidly gather- 
ing around it — concentrating from all quarters, in gangs from the tens and 
twenties to the hundreds. But thirty-five officers and men were in the 
building. A request was made by the Sergeant, of those in charge, to 
stop work and close up the factory, but was declined because of 
the absence of the proprietors and consequent want of orders. Very 
soon the mob made demonstrations by word and act, but were warned 
off by Sergeant Burdick, who notified them that any one making an 
assault would do so at his peril. The mob left, retiring up the avenue, 
but after an absence of some fifteen minutes, returned reinforced to thrice 
the original number, and instantly surrounded the building, yelling like 
demons ; they were armed with all kinds of weapons. The force determ- 
ined to hold the building, and an attempt to fire it was defeated ; each 
of the squad was armed with a carbine, furnished by the factory, and was 
judiciously stationed. But now stones began to be hurled through the 
many and low windows ; the mob, constantly increasing and encouraged, 
made an assault ; entrance was demanded and refused ; the squad kept 
cool and determined ; but a sledge-hammer in the hands of a brawny 
rioter was at work on the door ; the lower panel was broken in ; a shout 
of exultation from those around, and down on his knees he went and 
crawled partially through ; an instant and well-directed shot from one 
of the force strewed his brains in all directions, and he was hastily 
dragged back by his friends, dead. This sudden catastrophe to their 
leader staggered the mob, but only temporarily, for in a few moments 
the attack was renewed with the greatest violence ; the windows were 
showered through with stones, and shot came thick and fast. Sergeant 
Burdick sent to Captain Cameron, and called for the aid expected ; the 
Captain sent word that it was impossible for his force to reach them, 
and that the expected aid had not arrived ; soon orders were received to 
save his men and retreat from the building. By this time the thousands 
were pressing on to success ; the " Broadway Squad," by a determined 
front, had, for four hours, held them in check, but to do so longer was im- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 79 

possible, and to remain was certain death ; the order was given to retreat. 
There was but one way in which to do so and escape the infuriated 
crowd ; neither to the front or the sides was it possible ; and the only 
way of safe exit was through a smoke hole in the rear wall, about twelve 
by eighteen inches, and some eighteen feet from the ground ; this led into 
the yards from Twenty-first Street. Not a moment was to be lost. 
Boxes were piled up to reach the spot, and the men, one at a time, 
squeezed in and through, feet foremost, performing rapid gymnastic feats 
outside in swinging to and dropping from a gutter-trough to the yard 
below. Thus the entire force made their escape, and the last man was 
only out when the mob were in, and the work of pillage and arson com- 
menced. From the yard into which the men had dropped they had to 
climb over into a stone yard, and through that go on a keen run to the 
Eighteenth Precinct Station in Twenty-second St., reaching it unharmed. 
Here their stay was short ; the mob, enraged at the obstinate holding of 
the factory, had got scent of them, and would have made short work of 
the station and all in it. So Sergeant Burdick sent the force off singly 
or in squads of two and three ; but about all had to seek shelter under 
kindly roofs, and doff their uniforms ere they could reach headquarters 
in safety. But they all did reach the Central Office unharmed, and at 5|- 
P. M. were sent on picket duty in the vicinity, which was performed 
until Tuesday morning. On Tuesday morning the force was with In- 
spector Carpenter's command in the Second Avenue, and were parties 
to the severe fights there, having a serviceable hand in the exemplary 
punishment meted out to the rioters. The " Squad " had the right of 
the line, and made the charge on the liquor store, at Thirty-first 
Street, from which the rioters were firing and hurling stones. They 
forced the doors and were in and through it ; in the course of the clear- 
ing process that ensued, one man, who was freely using his gun, and 
fought savagely, was knocked square out of the window, and was dead 
before he reached the ground. Seven blows from the locusts were his 
portion. In the afternoon they were again under Inspector Carpenter 
in the tour through Third Street, First Avenue, and Houston Street. At 
5^ P. M., with Captain Bogart's command, the " Broadway Squad " 
proceeded to Twenty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, where a mob was 
sacking the residence of Mr. J. S. Gibbons, No. 19 Lamartine Place. The 
force came upon the rioters, made a bold, steady charge, and drove 
through them to the house, strewing the way with bodies as they went. 
A large number of rioters and thieves were inside of the building, and 
while a portion of the command went in, others remained at the front, to 
receive with the locusts the villains driven out. It was here that the 
unfortunate Dipple, of the Twenty-fifth, received the wound which 



80 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

caused his death. A fellow came rushing from the house, laden with 
plunder, was caught by Sergeant Burdick and knocked down ; he had 
not released his hold of the thief ere a score of bullets whistled around 
his head, two of them lodging in the body of his prisoner, and six of the 
police fell at the discharge. It appeared that the military, who were 
stationed a short distance away from the house, on seeing the rush of the 
rioters from it, had fired recklessly and without orders, injuring more 
friends than foes. Officer Dipple was shot in the leg, the ball shattering 
the bone, and splitting, part passed into and up through the marrow ; he 
was conveyed to the City Hospital, but the peculiar character of the in- 
jury induced inflammation of the brain, and he died on the following Sun- 
day. Officer Hodgson was shot in the right arm, a ball and three 
buckshot passing through the fleshy portions. Officer Robinson received 
a severe flesh wound in his thigh. 

The work being accomplished here, the force returned to headquar- 
ters, where they were held in reserve until Wednesday morning, when 
they reported to Captain Helme, Twenty-seventh Precinct, remaining 
with him until Tlmrsday A. M. ; returning to Central Office, they were 
ordered to patrol Broadway in force, from Canal to Twenty-fifth Street. 
In the evening dismissed, and next day on regular duty. 

The " Broadway Squad" is composed of the tallest men in the force, 
none being under six feet, and most of them over. They aflforded good 
targets, and how the heavier proportioned ones ever squeezed out of the 
gun factory, as described, is as much a mystery to them as it undoubt- 
edly is to the reader. It shows what marvelous feats men can perform 
when under the propulsive influence created by the thousands of a mur- 
derous mob close on to their heels. The defence of the factory was nobly, 
though uselessly, attempted, and persistently made until orders from 
headquarters came to withdraw. The " squad " acted here, and on all 
occasions where true courage was necessary, as became brave men ; and 
Sergeant Burdick speaks with just pride of a command of which any man 
might be proud. Popular as the " Broadway Squad " has always been, 
its efficiency during " Riot Week " has enhanced its reputation. 

The military, at the defence of Gibbons' house, made a charge after 
their unfortunate volley, and the man whom Sergeant Burdick was hold- 
ing had two bayonets run through and through him. Officer Morris, 
of the Twenty-fifth, was the first to enter Gibbons', and, meeting a rioter, 
broke his club at the first blow, but knocked senseless his man. Rounds- 
men Benson Sherwood and Jerome H. Ferris are entitled to mention 
as having been most courageous and valuable. They were the associate 
officers of Sergeant Burdick, and their courageous and intelligent ser- 
vices were largely instrumental in winning for the force the proud name 



DURING THE lUOT WKEK, JUF^Y, isc,:{. 81 

it has acquired, neither of them imderstand the word "flinch," and 
they were ever first in duty and in danger. Both are brave, chivalrous 
men. 

Captain N. R. Mills was at Sangersficld Center, Oneida County. 
So soon as he heard of the riot he telegraplied to know its proportions, 
and whether he should return. After waiting for reply he took the first 
train and came directly through, reporting at Central Office for duty on 
Thursday evening, and took command of his force. lie was off on sick 
leave. 

On Monday officer Wells, of this force, while on duty in the vicinity 
of the Astor House, heard the cry of " Nigger, nigger !" and hastening to 
Park Row, met a mob chasing a car and endeavoring to enter it. Siii- 
gle-handed he kept them back, and went in, finding a colored man, fright- 
ened nigh to death, and bleeding from a blow on the head. When the 
cars reached the terminus, opposite the Astor House, he took the man 
out ; the mob closed on him, but he threatened death to the first who 
made an assault ; getting to the Astor House steps, with the aid of 
citizens the man was concealed from the sight of his pursuers behind one 
of the pillars, and the poor fellow was subsequently taken home by some 
gentlemen present. A few minutes after, an Amity stage came down 
with a negro on the box ; the mob caught sight of him, came back and 
attacked the omnibus and all inside and out with stone ; the driver was 
compelled to stop, and put tlu^ negro off. Officer Wells went to his 
aid as the rioters were about to seize him ; the mob threatened mur- 
der to both ; a citizen came to the rescue, drew a revolver, and, with 
officer Wells, kept the cowards at bay. They were followed by the 
mob down Barclay Street to Church, where, just as a rush and overthrow 
was about being made, a squad of the Third Precinct appeared, who rat- 
tled the skulls of the ruffians and sent them flying in all directions. 

Twenty-sixth Precinct. 

Capt. Thomas W. Thorne, City Hall. Early on Monday thousands 
of excited people were gathered in the Park and Printing-house Square. 
Incendiary harangues were made, and threats uttered ; every colored 
man met in the vicinity was attacked and beaten. Capt. Thorne detailed 
five of his force, in citizens' dress, who mingled with the different crowds, 
and reported every fift;een minutes. At 5^ o'clock P. M. the force with 
Capt. Warlow's command reported to headquarters, and were sent 
thence to the First Precinct, through which tour was made. On return- 
ing at dusk, met by citizens at the Post-office, who informed them of attack 
on Tribttne Building. Started up Nassau Street at double-quick, came 



82 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

on the. crowd of five or six thousand, the work of destruction having been 
commenced, the office entered, gutted, and fired. Capt. Thorne gave the 
word to his men to keep together. The order to charge was given, and 
on they went, without waiting to estimate odds, the handful, with a ringing 
cheer, against the thousands ; the first blow was received by the Captain, 
a bludgeon on the head, knocking him back six feet ; down went the man 
who gave it by the locust of officer Cowen ; on went the men, dealing 
blows right and left, desperately and with fearful effect ; the mob, even 
with its proportions, could not stand the impetuous charge ; they fought 
a few moments, sui'ged back, and then again swung forw'ard, as though to 
crush out the force ; it was too late ; on and among them were the com- 
mand, nearly every blow bringing to the ground a rioter ; in one place, 
six lay so close as almost to touch each other ; it was too much for the 
lawless, and, after hard and hand-to-hand fighting to Frankfort Street, 
they broke, fleeing in wild confusion. That portion which went up Chat- 
ham and Center Streets were closely followed for a while, and severely 
clubbed by this force ; that portion which fled across the Park were met 
by Inspector Carpenter and his men, and scores knocked down. No 
mercy was shown, and over a hundred lay in the square and Park, the 
well-punished victims of their own folly and crime. While the mob were 
being thus terribly handled in the street, some of the force turned their 
attention to the Tribune Building, fighting their way to and entering it. 
The fire had but just been lighted, and was readily extinguished. Officer 
Mc Waters, on entering the door, was assaulted by a burly ruffian, armed 
with a hay-rung, who, by a powerful blow on the shoulder, knocked him 
down ; instantly on his feet again, he more than repaid on the heads of 
the rioters the blow. The building was cleared speedily, and not a man 
found in it escaped without severe punishment. 

This good work being in detail so bravely and thoroughly accomplished, 
Capt. Thorne ordered his force to cover Spruce Street and the square at 
Frankfort. Sergeant Devoursney took command. What of the crowd 
had returned from Chatham Street and Center were pushed back to Frank- 
fort, and the space below entirely cleared. Meantime rumors were con- 
stant of mobs accumulating up-town to come down and finish a work 
which had been so disastrously for the rioters foiled. About eleven 
o'clock the mob had reassembled above Frankfort Street, though not in 
the old proportions, and were pressing sharply upon the police thrown 
across the square. Sergeant Devoursney used every argument to induce . 
them to retire, and these failing, ordered, " Now, men, go in and give it 
to them !" Go in they did forthwith, and, where moral suasion had failed, 
the locusts succeeded. It was a quick, severe fight, and a number were 
so badly punished as to be unable to get away. This was the last seri- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 186.S. 83 

ous demonstration in that section, the determined action and success of 
the police furnishing a lesson which was laid to heart. 

After the attack at the Tribvne those laying in the street were allowed 
to be carried off by their friends returning for them, and the square looked 
somewhat like a field of battle. In the charge ordered by Capt. Thornb, 
very many of the locusts were broken l)y the men of this precinct ; pretty 
good evidence that when they hit they meant to hurt. When the mob 
was being driven off, the writer of the " Record" came very near experi- 
encing the locusts while attempting to reach the Times Building. But 
for the prompt recognition of officer Frank Brown, of the Twenty -sixth 
Precinct, who rushed forward and warded off three well- raised and well- 
aimed clubs, he would have had a serious and practical experience where- 
with to speak of " locusts." Sergeant Devoursney was in the crowd 
alone and edging his way to the Tribune office just before the mob broke 
into it ; he had got on to the sidewalk, and drawing his revolver was 
about to shoot the man cheering on the croAvd, and who was also engaged 
in breaking in the door ; several bold and good citizens were there, en- 
deavoring to dissuade the rioters from their work, and they crowded 
around the Sergeant, one of them seizing his arm and begging him to 
desist, that he would do no good, would sacrifice his own life, besides ex- 
citing the crowd to a frenzy ; heeding the wise advice he forced his way 
back, got to the station, found Capt. Thorn e had been telegraphed to, 
hurried back, heard the cheer of the gallant force on its charge from 
Nassau, went in with his locust and fought his way through and to them, 
joining in the general fight. When it is remembered that the Sergeant 
was in uniform, his conduct exhibits the truest courage. Officer McCord 
was in citizen's dress, and going to the assistance of his comrades was liit 
and hurt by mistake. Officer Gardner received a serious blow from a 
brick on the leg. An elderly gentleman, who was among those at the 
Trihxine office, attempting to dissuade the mob, was hurt on the head by 
the police, who, of course, were ignorant of his purpose in being there. 
He was taken to the station-house, had his wound dressed, and asked if 
it would leave a scar. On being told it would, he said he should wear it 
proudly. The wounded who were not carried off by their friends were 
conveyed to the Twenty -sixth Precinct station-house, where Police Sur- 
geon Kennedy, with two assistants and half-a-dozen attendants, were 
busily engaged in washing, bandaging, sewing and strapping. The room 
had all the appearance of an army hospital after a battle — the floor cov- 
ered with blood, bandages, lint, surgical instruments, pails of bloody 
water, with Surgeon Kennedy, his shirt-sleeves rolled up, examining, 
dressing, and ordering. His cool, systematic and quick appliances showed 
him to be master of the situation. There were wounds of all descrip- 



84 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN TOLICE- 

tions — the incised, contused, lascerated, punctured, and pistol-shot. All 
were cared for, and the Doctor's kindness of heart glistened through the 
cool exterior of the skillful surgeon. 

On Tuesday morning this force. Sergeant Devoursney in command, 
with Sergeants Van Hagan, Pell and Townsend, reported to Central 
Office, and, with Capt. Walling's command, made tour through Tenth 
and Thirteenth Wards ; Capt. Walling's command were heartily cheered 
at several points on the march. Subsequently, with the force under In- 
spector DiLKS, they were in the engagement at Second Avenue and Twen- 
ty-second Street, where Capt. Helme's command were met ; here the 
Eighteenth Precinct was detached to visit their station-house on Twenty- 
second Street, near First Avenue, and the Twenty-sixth Avere oi'dered to 
accompany ; many of the mob, which had been dispersed, had fled into 
the houses below, and the force marched down under a heavy fire from 
roofs, doors, and windows ; when about half way they halted, but stood 
firm, and Inspector Dilks sent down the military to their support ; taking 
the right, they at once commenced firing, clearing house-tops, windows, 
and doors, pouring in shot wherever a head was shown, and thus pro- 
gressed down the street, clearing it also of a reassembled mob ; thus was 
the march had to the station-house and to First Avenue. It was a severe 
ordeal for the police, who had no weapons with which they could retali- 
ate. On the return from First Avenue, Sergeant Devoursney hung back, 
reconnoitering. He was fired at from a window, the bullet grazing his 
head. An ofticer of some other precinct, who had a musket, was with the 
Sergeant, and he deliberately loaded and discharged his piece, with care- 
ful aim, several times. The subsequent march with Inspector Dilks was 
had and risks incurred, all the men eager for the fray ; but with the 
police there was no further collision, though they were, until below 
Twenty-first Street, pretty constantly under fire. Soon after reaching 
headquarters, this precinct, with Capt. Bogart's command, visited the 
Sixteenth Ward, thence to Mr. Gibbons' house, No. 19 Lamartine 
Place, which they then found safe, and started on return. From 
here Sergeant Devoursney, with officer Gardnek, fell back to recon- 
noiter, and were stoned by diflferent gangs ; many women assured them 
that they " would all be killed like rats before they left the ward," and 
vituperation was constant. At Twenty -eighth Street and Eighth Avenue 
Devoursney was informed that a mob, on disappearance of the force, had 
again speedily collected at Mr. Gibbons' house and were sacking it. 
Promptly notifying Capt. Bogart, the force were wheeled, and, some mil- 
itary accompanying, were, on the double-quick, speedily at the spot. The 
military were held in reserve, the force, part of it, rushed in the house, the 
balance kept in front and a portion to the rear ; the caged plunderers. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY. 1863. 85 

meu, women, and half-grown children, were all badly punished save the 
last, who were spared ; not one of the men escaped ; those who rushed 
out were all loaded with spoils, and were met by the police in waiting 
only to go to the ground. One rioter made a rush from the door, pistol 
in hand, and was caught and clubbed by officer Hill ; the fellow fired, 
the ball inflicting a serious wound in the officer's thigli. At this time it 
was that the military most unaccountably fired upon those in front of the 
house, wounding six of the police — one since dead — aiid killing two riot- 
ers. The man who had shot officer Hill was riddled with balls. Officer 
Rice was shot in the groin, and had two slugs through the thigh. He had 
been doing good battle. A ball passed through the sleeve of Sergeant 
Pell. One great, burly i-uffian, covered with blood, jumped down from 
the parlor window. Officer Hanifer met him, and a fierce, brief fight 
ensued, in which the locust seemed to have no effect ; he escaped to the 
street, and there a multiplicity of them brought him to the ground. 
One woman, of goodly size, rushed out loaded with stolen goods ; she 
made fight like a tigress, seized an officer by the throat and attempted 
to strangle and bite him ; it was necessary to punish her before she re- 
leased her hold and spoils. JNIany women who were in the house were 
caught, and from a rather respectable looking one was recovered shawls 
and other articles stowed around her person ; 3ne grim-visaged, brutal 
looking fellow rushed out with a bundle of music as his plunder ; despite 
the good taste of the selection he marched to the music of the locusts. 

This was a trying occasion for the police ; at one time they were 
under two fires, one from the military, and the other from the rioters in 
the liouse. The unfortunate Dipple, of the Broadway Squad, was the 
only one who lost his life ; officers Rice and Hill were long unfit for duty. 
In the ordeal there was no quivering or flinching, fearful as it was. At 
the conclusion of this exciting affair an attempt was made to close up the 
house, but as it had been sacked of everything portable, and the doors 
and windows all smashed and useless, it was impossible to do so. The 
command returned to headquarters and were the recipients, from Com- 
missioner AcTOX, of a handsome and appreciative speech. The Twenty- 
sixth were held in reserve at Central Office until Wednesday morning, 
when they were returned to the City Hall, and were in active service 
until Friday, on the various scouting expeditions sent fi-om thence by 
order of Inspector Leonard, and on the duties of guard and picket. On 
Friday returned to station and resumed usual duty. 

It will be noticed that Capt. Thokne was not with his command on 
Tuesday. On the arrival of Inspector Leonard, on Mqnday night, with 
his large force at City Hall, he aj^pointed Capt. Thorne his Aid, in the 
many onerous and responsible duties which the protection of the 



86 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

lower part of the City entailed. It was on Tuesday that constant vigi- 
lance had to be exercised to prevent the concentration of the crowds in 
and around the Park ; from an early hour great excitement existed among 
the rabble gathering there, and, in checking it, the police experienced the 
iitmost difficulty ; but despite any and all they succeeded. During the 
morning the Inspector and his Aid had been responding to orders from 
headquarters, sending off detachments to different sections, and by no tn 
they were stripped of the entire command, and were left with but one door- 
man. On the disappearance of the force the mob quickly concentrated, and 
made demonstrations against the station-house. Inspector Leonard at 
once ordered it closed and secured, and, with Capt. Thorne, hurried to the 
Central Office, promptly returning with a sufficient force to again dis- 
perse the crowd, though not without some trouble and hard knocks. From 
this time until Friday, when Inspector Leonard 'dismissed his command, 
^ Capt. Thorne was constantly under his orders, and executed them with 
an intelligence and promptitude which more than justified the sagacity of 
the Inspector in selecting him. 

Of the conduct of the officers and men of this force, from the com- 
mencement of the disturbances down town to conclusion of the riots, but 
little need be said. The record shows what they did, and how officers 
and men emulated each other in fidelity to the public interests, and in the 
gallantry with which they defended them. Their duties were wearying 
and almost unceasing, yet performed at all times with cheerfulness and 
alacrity. The "Twenty-sixth" can carry with honest pride their desig- 
nating number, and justly can Capt. Thorne say, as he does, " I am proud 
to sign myself their Captain." 

Twenty-seventh Precinct. 

Capt. John C. Helme, No. 1 17 Cedar Street, On Monday after- 
noon the entire force, except Sergt. Rockwell and four men, reported to 
Central Office. Sergt. Barnett, with three sections, was with the com- 
mand under Inspector Carpenter in the fight with the mob at Broadway 
and Amity. Officer Doyle knocked down the standard-bearer, and offi- 
cer Thompson secured the Stars and Stripes ; they were subsequently 
presented to Inspector Carpenter, and were borne in the center of the 
command. Officer Rhodes was struck with a bar of iron on the head ; 
continued the fight and was on duty until Wednesday, participating 
in the Twenty-second Street battle ; the serious nature of the wound 
compelled him to retire. In the evening and until Tuesday morning the 
force was in reserve at Central Office. 

On Tuesday morning Capt. Helme, with his command, proceeded to 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, .H'LY, 1863. 87 

the Mayor's house, in Fifth Avenue, which was being attackcrl ; the mob 
fled at the approach ; a pile of bricks near the dwelling, used in some 
alterations and repairs, was removed by the force to a place where they 
could be of no service to a mob, and a pile, which the neighbor friends 
of his Honor had placed on the stoop for defence, were also removed, so 
as to be out of reach of rioters should another attack be made. Soon 
after Capt. Helme, in command of his own precinct and others, was 
ordered to the Second Avenue to recover arms stolen and stored in the 
wire factory, corner of Twenty-second Street. The " Twenty-seventh " 
was on the right ; on wheeling into the avenue from Twenty-first Street 
the order to charge was given, and the mob driven back, despite a des- 
perate resistance ; some fifty were placed hors du combat, and by the 
time Twenty-second Street w^as reached all was clear, save the biiilding, 
which was full of rioters stealing and distributing the guns ; they 
were unawares caught at their work. Sergeant Wilson, with a portion 
of the command, was ordered to, and at once did, rush in the building, 
the rest held in front ; it was five stories high. On every floor were the 
ruffians busy at their work ; and on every floor were they met and at- 
tacked ; they fought desperately, but were driven from rooms and hall- 
ways, from windows and roof-top ; those who were not knocked sense- 
less inside or killed themselves by jumping to the ground, rushed down 
stairs and into the street to receive the welcome of the locusts there. 
Not one man, it is thought, escaped. The rioters used in the fight the 
carbines, clubbing them, but the unexpected attack prevented any suc- 
cessful battle ; those who prostrate encumbered the building were 
dragged out and left lying in the street for their friends to carry off. 
The police then went to work to remove some one thousand guns ; a 
horse and wagon was pressed into the service, much against the owner's 
will, and the weapons loaded into it. The delay caused by the work of 
removing so many muskets gave an opportunity to the rioters to reas- 
semble, and they did so, pouring in from all quarters al)Ove and below 
on the avenue, and on Twenty-second Street. By the time the wagon 
was loaded and the force in line, they were completely surrounded by an 
overwhelming and infuriated mob ; not a man flinched ; all felt their 
critical situation, but were determined to fight their way out. Just at 
this juncture, when they were showered with stone and shot, and when 
the mob, reinforced by that which had murdered Col. O'Brien, were 
about rallying for an attack, Inspector Dilks, with his command of po- 
lice and military, wheeled into the avenue from Twenty-first Street. 
The appearance of the force Avas hailed by Capt. Helme's command with 
the most enthusiastic cheers ; the mob was assaulted in the rear, and, 
staggered by the impetuosity of the charge, instantly gave way. Capt. 



88 SERVICED OF THE METKOrOLITx\N TOLICE 

Helme's command joined in the fight, and soon the mob were driven in 
all directions. The force at once wheeled into line with Inspector Dilks' 
command, and accompanied him, with their spoils, in the subsequent 
ni^rch, incurring all the risks of what was a most hazardous tour. 

In the fight at the wire factory the women were very desperate, re- 
fusing to move, and throwing stones as well as using clubs and other 
weapons. The men were demoniac, apparently insane with malignity 
and fury. After the charge into the building, officer Follis was assault- 
ed on the stairway by a man armed with a gun and a bar of iron ; the 
fellow struck Follis on the arm, badly injuring him, but was knocked 
senseless and disarmed. On the charge to Twenty-second Street, Rounds- 
man Wetmore left the command and singly chased the flyers down that 
street, knocked down a man who was armed with a loaded pistol, taking 
it from him. The Captain was at the head of his men in the fight, ask- 
ing no one to go where he was not willing to lead. On reaching the 
door of the wire factory, he wrenched a gun from the hands of the first 
rioter and thief rushing out, swung him to the ground, where the locusts 
of those among whom he had fallen did the rest. 

On return to headquai'ters Captain Helme left for a personal inspection 
of his precinct. At 10 P. M. Sergeant Barnett, who remained with force 
at Central Office (Sergeants Wilson and Peck, who had been until 
Tuesday evening with the force, being detailed to telegraph duty), went 
to Thirty-fourth Street and Lexington Avenue, to recover the body of 
the murdered Col. O'Brien, but it had been removed. 

On Wednesday afternoon Capt. Helme and his command were re- 
turned to their own precinct ; a great alarm existed in the vicinity, mobs 
had been visiting and threatening several buildings and hotels there- 
abouts. He succeeded in restoring confidence and order. Scouts in 
parties of four were sent out, who reported as occasion required. A 
number of crowds were dispersed during the night. On W^ednesday 
P. M. the command, under Sergt. Barnett, with Capt. Hutching's com- 
mand, proceeded to Yorkville. Here patrol duty was performed during 
balance of the day and night. The next and succeeding days Sergeant 
Barnett occupied himself and his command in visiting shanties and re- 
covering stolen goods. The force recovered a very lai'ge amount; They 
remained in this precinct until Saturday, and then returned to their 
own. 

On Thursday morning word was I'eceived that the colored man who 
had been beaten and thrown overboard from Pier No. 4, North River, 
was living and under the pier! Officers Hey, McClusker, and Darrow, 
having disguised themselves as sailors, went down, hired a boat and 
commenced a search. At the pier, officer McClusker stript, plunged in 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY. 1863. 89 

and swam under ; after a search of full an hour and a half in the dark- 
ness, he found the poor fellow crouching on the stone-work, nearly naked, 
all blood and half insane; he had a large stone clutched in his hand; it 
was a long while before the officer could convince him he was a friend 
and come to rescue him, but fmally succeeded ; this accomplished, Mc- 
Clusker swam out and had the boat rowed under ; the alarm of the 
negro was again aroused, and it was almost by main force that he was 
got into the boat. The three manly-hearted officers then rowed with 
him to the police-boat No. 1, near by, where he was taken on board and 
kindly cared for. 

Saturday evening Sergt. Barnett, having returned froni Yorkville 
with Roundsman Rigney and Fourth Section, reported at the Central 
Office, and next (Sunday) morning went with Capt. Dickson to Hastings, 
Dobbs' Ferry, Tarrytown, and Sing Sing. The particulars of this ex- 
pedition will be given in the record of the Twenty-ninth. They were 
on this expedition three days, and did ably and cheerfully all the duties 
consequent upon it. 

Sergt. M. B. Wilson was left alone in the station on the morning of 
the Riot Week. A colored man was brought in for safety, and the station 
was at once the object of the mob's attention. The Sergeant closed and 
barricaded the doors, and awaited an attack. The mob cooled off and 
left, and the negro was sent away in safety. Officer Carroll was, while 
reconnoitering at Liberty and Greenwich Streets, twice knocked down 
by a mob, but escaped without serious injury. When the Captain re- 
turned temporarily to his own precinct, on Tuesday, he heard of a 
mob attacking a man who was mistaken for one Smith, the proprietor of 
a drinking house in Greenwich Street. The house of this Smith had, 
the night before, been attacked and sacked, and he had shot a party whom 
he considered among those engaged, killing him on the spot, and then 
escaped. The man attacked was one of his employes. Capt. Helme 
and officer Carroll repaired to the scene and succeeded in rescuing the 
man, who was quite severely injured. On Wednesday, Thursday and 
Friday nights, officers Carroll, Hey, and McClusker were on scouting 
duty, in citizens' dress, throughout the precinct — a duty of no little haz- 
ard, and, as they performed it, of great value. Sergeant Barnett at- 
tracted the attention of his officers and men, as he did the attention of 
the Commissioners and Superintendents, during the entire week of the 
riots, by his unwearying activity, his indomitable courage, and his manly, 
intelligent performance of all duties. There was nothing required of 
him that was not thoroughly performed. He is literally a noble fellow 
and excellent officer. The more such men as Barnett the higher 
the repute of the force. 



90 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

The services of this force were of an almost constant and certainly 
arduous and hazardous character. They did faithfully and manfully all 
duties which they were called on to perform, and have placed themselves 
in an honorable light before the higher officers of the Department and 
the public. 

Twenty-eighth Precinct. 

Captain John F. Dickson, No. 550 Greenwich Street. In the morn- 
ing of Monday Sergeant Wolfe and ten men were ordered to report to 
Captain Speight, at Marshal's office, No. 1190 Broadway, but ffiiding the 
office closed, and no one to report to, repaired to Fortieth Street and 
Third Avenue, in Avhich vicinity it was heard a riot was raging. On 
reaching Third Avenue from Forty-third Street, meantime being joined 
by more police, a charge was made on the mob, which, fighting desper- 
ately, was driven back to and beyond Forty-sixth Street, where they broke. 
The rioters seemed seized with terror at the determined character of 
the charge, and fled in all directions ; the entire force did not exceed fifty 
— their opponents thousands — and the punishment inflicted was of the 
most severe character, the rioters laying thick as the force advanced ; the 
force had penetrated to the front of the Marshal's office at Forty-sixth 
Street, which was in flames, but recerved no support, the police which 
had been on the ground having been beaten off". The mob rallied, hurled 
themselves upon the Twenty-eighth and their associates, and in a brief 
time broke them, every man looking out for himself; stones and brick- 
bats and shot were showered on them like hail, and, in the close pursuit, 
clubs fell upon them with damaging effect. Some ran into dwellings, 
were secreted, subsequently escaping in disguise ; others ran the gaunt- 
let of the guns, clubs, and missiles, but all reported as soon as possible 
after the disaster to the station. 

In this battle, officer Dapke, on the retreat, was seriously injured, but 
got away, and was secreted in a dwelling ; officer Holley had a finger 
broken ; officer Siebert was set upon by a number of men, and his arm 
broken ; officers Polhamus, Bryan, and Bassford had severe scalp 
wounds ; officer Knight was badly injured in the chest, and Sergeant 
Wolfe, who was the last to retreat, had to fight his way out, and was 
badly injured on the head. Officers Knight and Bolman were saved by 
some women, who afforded them refuge in their houses, whence they 
escaped in disguise. 

At 11.40 A.M. Roundsman Mangles reported, with eleven men, to 
Capt. Porter, Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue ; had been there but 
a short time ere the rnob made an oA'^erwhelming charge, scattering the 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. ' 91 

force in all directions. Capt. Porter, unwilling to sacrifice his men, 
gave the order to retreat, and it was wise that he did so ; he saved many 
valuable lives. This force of the precinct reported as soon as possible 
after the defeat to Capt. Dickson, at the station. 

In the afternoon Capt. Dickson, with Sergeants O'Connor and Groat, 
reported at the Central Office. In the evening they were under the com- 
mand of Inspector Carpenter in the crushing of the mob in the Park, 
and their locusts flew well and effectively. Sergeant O'Connor had his 
head badly cut here, and was compelled to retire from duty. All through 
the Fourth Precinct were they with the Inspector, moving the mobs from 
pillar to post, eventually dispersing all of them and restoring order to a 
section which was alive with riot and pillage. On return to Central 
Office, were held in reserve until Tuesday A. M., when, at 2 o'clock, they 
accompanied Sergeant Copeland to Clarkson Street, where the body of 
the murdered negro was recovered. Soon after ordered to the fire at the 
packing-house, corner Houston and Washington Streets, where they re- 
mained till 5 A. M. ; thence to Leroy Street, where Capt. Dickson res- 
cued the negro who had been knocked down by a crowd, and beaten on 
the head by a rioter, with a stone weighing twenty pounds, until he was 
thought dead. This fiend stood over the poor fellow when he laid on the 
street, deliberately lifted and brought down the stone upon his head five 
or six times, gritting his teeth, yelling his execrations, and reveling in 
his cowardly and hellish deed of blood. The negro, in defending himself 
before this, had knocked his murderer down several times. The rioter 
had fled from him, leaving it to a score of others to render him defenceless, 
and, when the poor fellow was insensible, he returned to complete the 
work of murder. Capt. Dickson pressed into service a wagon, and, put- 
ting the sufferer into it, conveyed him to the hospital. No horse could 
be had, and the men turned in, drawing the wagon. The poor fellow died 
soon after, but meantime was able to whisper his name — Williams — to 
the Captain. Three persons charged with the murder have since been 
arrested by this force. 

On Tuesday, at 10.30 A. M., Capt. Dickson and his command were, 
under Inspector Dilks, of those who visited the factory where stolen arms 
were stored at Twenty-second Street and Second Avenue. The Twenty- 
eighth Precinct had the right. Inspector Dilks' command drove, it will 
be remembered, after severe fighting, the mob before them, then entered, 
and took the well-defended building, and recovered a large number of 
arms. It was one of the most severe fights of the entire campaign, and 
thoroughly tested the " mettle " of the police. Sergeant Groat had a 
desperate encounter with a well-armed, courageous, and muscular fellow ; 
he fought him, with reckless courage, some two hundred yards up the 



92 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

avenue and away from the command, but succeeded in bringing him to 
the ground ; on the running fight the fellow turned, and a blow on the 
back of his head produced the phenomenon of a full set of teeth flying out 
of his mouth, and pirouetting in the air, falling some ten feet distant ; 
they were evidently false, as was the heart of the fellow wearing them. 
In this battle not one innocent man was punished, but the avenue was 
literally strewn with the bodies of the rioters. Many were picked up 
and hastily removed ; carried off, no one knows and few care where, and 
others w'ere carried to their homes to live or die, as the nature of their 
wounds permitted. 

So soon as returned to Central Office, Capt. Dickson and his com- 
mand were ordered to report to Inspector Leonard, at City Hall, and 
were on guard in Printing-house Square and Park, doing active and 
valuable duty in preventing concentration of inflamed and inflammatory 
crowds. They remained here until Saturday, Inspector Leonard bear- 
ing cheerful testimony to their vigilance and efficiency, when they were 
returned to their own precinct. 

On Sunday morning this precinct, with others, Capt. Dickson in 
command, were detailed to visit the different villages and towns up the 
river so far as Peekskill. They were accompanied by Companies A and 
B, Seventy-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers, of Buffalo, Lieut. 
Nagle in command, and were everywhere received with the utmost en- 
thusiasm. Residents threw open their houses to them, and volunteered 
every hospitality. Ca^it. Dickson in most cases declined, because of the 
numbers of his command, and his hesitancy in accepting hospitalities 
which, however well meant, might prove onerous. The force w^ere gone 
until Wednesday, the 22d, disembarking en route and on return at every 
place, restoring confidence and assuring the residents of protection and 
assistance. Capt. Dickson and his command speak in glowing terms of 
Lieut. Nagle and his command of the Seventy -fourth Regiment. Fresh 
from the duties of the war and noble service, their time had expired on Sat- 
urday, but they at once volunteered for the expedition. During it they won 
the admiration and respect of the citizens of every place visited, by their 
manly bearing and deportment. They co-operated cordially with the 
police, emulated them in considerate conduct at all places visited, and, 
while they proved themselves soldiers, proved also that they were gal- 
lant and chivalrous gentlemen. 

On the return of the force tliey had but a brief respite, for, on Thurs- 
day, Capt. Dickson was ordered to Port Richmond. Reaching there he 
marched to Quarantine ; thence to Vanderbilt's Landing. Here the riot 
had occurred in which two citizens had been killed ; he marched his 
command through all the infected section, meeting with none but peace- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, ]8f.3. 93 

able demonstrations; the force during the day had marched eleven miles 
under a burning sun ; two were prostrated and carried back to the boat. 
At 5 P.M. the command returned to New York. On reaching the dock 
they were met with orders to go to Flushing, L. I., and were joined by 
Lieut. Bird and company, Seventh Regiment, who were in waiting. Off 
at once they went, arriving at 8^ P. M., landed, marched through the 
village, and, finding all quiet, returned to the boat. Here they remained 
all night, and, in the morning, after another tour through the village, 
returned to the citj^, arriving at 3 P. M. AVell fagged out, the force 
marched to its own precinct. 

No force had more arduous and more prolonged duties than the 
" Twenty-eighth," and from first to last every call upon Capt, Dickson 
and his command was obeyed with alacrity. In every engagement to 
which they were parties they evinced the utmost courage, and their 
escutcheon is unstained by a single unworthy act. For a week and a 
half they were on constant duty, and have won full honors by the man- 
ner in which all requirements were performed. To Capt. Dickson, 
whose example and endurance encouraged his men, the greatest credit is 
due. Sergeant William Groat and detective Henry Jay, during the 
entire period of service, were iiiiweaiying, active, and courageous. Ser- 
geant Van Deusen was left in charge of the station. On two occasions he 
was threatened by the mob, but coolly prepared for them, and, with but 
four men, not only managed to save the building, but the refugees in it. 
In the battle on the Second Avenue, under Inspector Dilks, one of 
this force disposed of four of the worst of the rioters. He went into the 
fight on his own hook. His favorite cry was, when he brought a villain 
down, " Hallo ! Johnny Roach, how are you ?" 

Twentj-iiintli Precinct. 

Capt. F. C. Speight, East Twenty-ninth Street, near Fourth Avenue. 
Except when detailed in squads, the Twenty-ninth was always under the 
immediate command of the Captain. Saturday, before the riot, Sergt, 
Van Orden, with fifteen men, took charge of the Seventh Avenue Arse- 
nal, remaining until Monday afternoon. Many manifestations were made 
against the building, but the force determined to defend it to the last. 
Early on Monday Capt. Speight, with twenty men, reported at the Mar- 
shal's Office, No. 1190 Broadway, where the drafting proceeded quietly 
until adjournment at noon. Capt. Speight withdrew his men at 4 P. M. 
having, during his stay, dispersed several crowds, and reported at Central 
Office. Ten minutes after he left, the mob reassembled, and the Mar- 
shal's Office was in flames. The entire block from Twenty-eighth to 



94 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Twenty-ninth Street was destroyed. During the morning word was re- 
ceived that Superintendent Kennedy had been killed, and Capt. Speight, 
without waiting for orders, sent off Sergt. Young with a force to the 
Nineteenth Ward to recover him ; meantime he had been rescued. On 
Monday evening the entire command was with Inspector Carpenter in 
the Park, and were active participants in the battle there with those who 
had attempted to fire the Tribune Buildings. Subsequently were with 
Inspector Carpenter in the tour through the Fourth Ward and in the 
several engagements ; in this section houses occupied by colored people 
had been fired from below, driving the inmates up stairs, whose only 
escape was by jumping into the street ; some of them were clinging to 
window-sills, some to the eaves, and the clothes of some, while thus sus- 
pended, had caught fire. The police did all in their power to rescue 
them, but in many instances, for want of ladders, were unable to. A num- 
ber were, in falling, seriously injured, and one killed. Thence Captain 
Speight and command were ordered to Inspector Leonard's command 
at City Hall, and were constantly on the different expeditions of the night. 
Officer O'Byrne was attacked in Chatham Street, near the Park, his club 
wrenched from him and he badly beaten with it ; he recovered the locust, 
fought his men, and succeeded in bringing one into the Twenty -sixth Pre- 
cinct station-house, who was in a condition which required immediate 
attention of the surgeon. This fellow's name was Dermott ; he was 
afterwards sent to the City Hospital, but escaped on Wednesday. 

Tuesday morning reported to Inspector Carpenter, at Central Office, 
and with his command marched to Second Avenue and Thirty-fourth 
Street. Capt. Speight and command were on the rear, and upon this 
portion of the battalion an attack was made on the avenue soon after 
passing above Thirty-fourth street. From the streets and houses shots 
and missiles of all kinds were poured thick and fast ; Capt. Speight at 
once faced the rear ranks about, and ordered a charge on the mob closing 
up from below. But the men were momentarily staggered and bewil- 
dered by the sudden and desperate character of the attack ; Capt. Speight 
had on giving the word dashed ahead, and was far in advance, the target 
for hundreds, when he was knocked down with a brick. His fall recov- 
ered the men, and they came on with a rush. The Captain was on his 
feet ere they reached him, and joined in an onslaught on the mob. The 
clubs fell mercilessly, and men fell under them. The mob were beaten 
and fled. Meantime the fire from the houses continued. Inspector Car- 
penter sent orders from the front to charge, take, and clear them. On 
went the force to the work. The houses were stormed and entered, and 
cleared, from the cellar to the roof, of every one save women and children, 
and those whom Capt. Speight, from a prior Captaincy in that vicinity, 



DURING THE RIOT WP:EK, JULY, 1863. 9$ 

knew to be peaceable men. The fighting inside was of the severest char- 
acter, the rioters well anned, and fighting for their lives. Few of them, 
if any, escaped without serious injury. In Graham's liquor store, corner 
Thirty-fourth Street and Second Avenue, eight or ten rioters had fallen 
and lay wedged in between the liquor casks. Although the houses were 
filled with women and children — many of the former urging the men 
on to their riotous work — not one of either was hurt ; the children were 
carried by the officers out of harm's way. Roundsman Roberts carried 
three little ones, placing them in rooms where they would be safe from 
danger and out of sight of the painful scenes. 

Capt. Speight in one of the houses met an old man on the stairs : " For 
God's sake. Captain, save my life !" A rioter above aimed a blow at the 
Captain, but it would have struck the old man had not Speight caught it 
on his own arm. He placed the old gentleman in a place of safety, and 
hurried up stairs ; in one room saw a woman with her crinoline well 
spread out, sitting in a corner ; she asked him to save her child, and he 
carried it to another room for safety ; returning queried of her what she 
had behind her, and compelling her to remove, a lusty, fierce looking 
fellow, with club in hand, was revealed ; a brisk combat ensued, but the 
rioter fared the worst and was sent down stairs to the mercies of those 
below. On one floor a woman was in the hall holding a door to prevent 
the man within from getting out ; the Captain removed her, and from the 
room sprang a fellow making an onslaught with his club, but striking 
wild in his frenzy ; soon down stairs he went, not to return again. The 
work of clearing being complete, the force — this was the battle of the 
rear ranks — reformed and joined the balance of the command. This was 
considered one of the sharpest engagements of the campaign. The force 
engaged suffered considerably, but it was estimated that over thirty of 
the rioters were seriously punished. 

After returning to Central Office, Capt. Speight and command re- 
ported to Inspector Leonard at City Hall, where they remained all 
night ; were engaged in the different tours of the Fourth, Fifth, and 
Eighth Wards, and in the divers skirmishes with, and dispersal of, the 
mobs. On Wednesday morning, reported to the Central Office, from 
whence they w^ere almost unceasingly engaged in expeditions and special 
duties until Saturday, when ordered to their own precinct. This force 
numbers thirty men more than any other, and, consequently, were al- 
ways in demand and performed extra duty. " Fall in. Twenty-ninth," 
became a by-word, so constantly was the order given. 

Sergeants Van Orden and Young were active in the service. Ser- 
geant Ward was very ill, but reported himself before expiration of leave 
for duty, and was assigned to care of the station, relieving Sergt. Jones, 



96 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

who had been ill for a long Avhile. The station-house was made the hos- 
pital for policemen and others for the upper portion of the city. Four- 
teen of the Twenty-ninth had been severely injured, one since dead and 
two yet in hospital. The Captain also received a severe injury on the 
leg, from which he will long be a sufferer. Surgeon Griscom was un- 
wearying and skillful in his attentions to all the injured. 

The labor of this precinct was uninterrupted for five days and 
nights. Capt. Speight is a bold and valuable officer, a veteran in the 
matter of handling mobs, and he had, in the devotion to duty of his men, 
their bravery and willingness to respond to any call, a force which made 
them of signal service. 

Thirtieth Precinct. 

Capt. J, Hartt, One Hundred and Thirty-first Street, Manhattan- 
ville. On Monday the whole force of this precinct was held in reserve, 
and on Tuesday morning reported at Central Office. At noon were re- 
turned to their own precinct, where disturbances were apprehended, and 
where numerous dwellings had been threatened. Capt. Hartt, soon as 
reaching his station, made admirable arrangements for preservation of 
peace and property, so disposing his force as to be able to use them 
effectively. After their return there were no violent demonstrations, 
the rioters in that section evidently not caring to come into collision 
with them. One of the dwellings which had been especially threatened, 
the Captain, with a force, took charge of, remaining there till apprehen- 
sions no longer existed. Meantime, intimations were given that his own 
would be burned, but he said that his first duty was to the public, and 
that he had not force enough to spare any to look after his own interests. 
The family of the house he was protecting had left ; when asked by a body 
of rioters what he intended to do, he said he intended to fight, and to give 
the Coroner, if it was made necessary, more jobs in a day than he had 
had in a year. The determined conduct of the force had the best effect 
in cooling down the riotously disposed. Special protection was afforded 
several dwellings, beside the one above referred to, and there is no doubt 
that but for the return of the force, this precinct would have been the 
scene of arson and pillage to a great extent. Although the Thirtieth 
had no opportunity to participate in the more active and exciting 
scenes of the week, they were of the first importance in their own 
precinct, and have the acknowledgment of the inhabitants for their 
valuable and intelligent services. 

On Tuesday night Sergeant Blake was in charge of the station- 
house, with two sick officers ; a mob passed, but did nothing more than 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 97 

throw a few stones. While the force were away, on Tuesday, two 
men, armed, drove around notifying certain residents — among them the 
Captain's family — to move out, for on Wednesday the dwellings would 
be burned down. The appearance of the force, as shown, however, put 
a stop both to threats and consummation. A few of the riots in which 
Capt. Hartt has had a schooling, are the 'Long-shore, the Riot of 1857, 
and the famous Bone Riot. The experience gained in these and others 
would have operated badly for the lawless had they evoked it. 

Thirty-first Precinct. 

Capt. James Z. Bogart, Eighty-sixth Street, Bloomingdale Road. 
On Monday a portion of the force held in reserve at their own sta- 
tion, and a portion under the Captain, with Sergts. Ten Eyck and Bar- 
rett, reported at Central Office, remained until Tuesday morning, when 
the command, with others, under Inspector Carpenter, marched to 
Second Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street. The fight aiul capture of the 
houses here by the rear ranks, of which the Thirty-first were one, has 
been described in the record of the " Twenty-ninth." Capt. Bogart 
and his men were in the buildings, and had many a hand-to-hand encoun- 
ter, never flinching from their work, but doing it manfully — zealously. 
Sergt. Ten Eyck and officers Thompson, Stevenson, and Stoddard, were 
especially noticeable during this exciting affair for the courage they dis- 
played. Indeed, the force, none of them, evaded any hazard, but per- 
formed their duty vigorously and thoroughly, as many of the victims 
of their locusts will, if they can at all, regretfully testify. This force 
was also, of course, under the heavy fire from the houses and the street, 
and were a portion of those assailing and beating the mob on the ave- 
nue. After return to Central Office, they were ordered to Inspector 
DiLKs' command, which, at Twenty-second Street and Second Avenue, 
had such a severe fight. Here the mob were vastly superior in numbers, 
were well armed, and well contested the charge made upon them. It 
was a close fight, the crowd falling back slowly at first, but the persistent 
locusts were dropping upon them Avith telling effect, and when they did 
break, it was in terror and confusion. Their wounded laid along the street, 
and many were promptly cared for by the women, but the most of 
them were not attended to or moved until the force had left the ground. 

In the evening Capt. Bogart, in charge of a force, including his own 
command, and a body of military, visited the Sixteenth Ward; a crowd 
was dispersed from Mr. Gibbons' house in Twenty-ninth Street, near 
Eighth Avenue, the command moving on. No sooner were they out of 
sight than the rioters rallied, broke into the house, having stoned the front 
7 



98 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

almost to ruin, and commenced sacking it. Capt. Bogart had not 
marched far ere he heard of this, and at once took his command back ; a 
portion of the rioters were caught in the street, but a large number in 
the house. A charge to the fi-ont produced the speedy flight of the 
rioters in the street, and then a portion of the force were ordered into the 
building. Nearly everything that could be carried had been taken away; 
closets, trunks, and draAvers had been broken open and general pillage 
had been the order. Parties were at work when the police entered ; 
they were caught in the halls, parlors, on the stairways, and in the cham- 
bers, each ladened ; the men thieves were shown no mercy, but received 
their full deserts. In order not to encumber the house a number were 
hauled out to the sidewalk. On this occasion it was, when a number 
of police were engaged on and about the stoop with the thieves who 
came rushing out, that the military fired without orders, wounding six 
of the police, one fatally and others seriously, and riddling one of the 
rioters with balls ; subsequently, some of the military made a charge, 
one of the thieves being transfixed with bayonets. The punishments 
here were among the most severe the rioters, in proportion to their 
numbers, anywhere received. Not much of property was recovered, the 
sacking having been done in a remarkably short time. So soon as the 
house was broken into it was literally filled with men and boys, 
women and girls ; some of the women fought the police savagely. 

On return to Central Office, the force were in reserve until Wednes- 
day, when it returned to its own precinct to meet emergencies there, 
doing special duty until Saturday, but without having to suppress any 
disturbances. 

This force were in the two severe battles in Second Avenue, and in 
the disastrous one, so far as injury to the police was concerned, at 
Mr. Gibbons' house. They were well tested as to courage, endurance, 
and discipline, and sustained themselves bravely, being important auxil- 
iaries in the suppression of the riots and the restoration of order. The 
quiet in their own precinct, which was likely to be disturbed just about 
the time they returned, was preserved by the judicious management of 
Capt, Bogart and the faithfulness with which all orders were pi-omptly 
and thoroughly obeyed. 

Thirty-second Precinct. 

Capt, A. S. Wilson, Fort Washington, The Captain and his force re- 
ported at Central Office on Tuesday morning, with Sergts, Huff, White- 
man, and Castle, coming down by Hudson River Railroad ; were soon 
after en route, with Inspector Dilks' command, to Twenty-second Street 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY. 1863. 99 

and Second Avenue, where the mob was driven off, the building in which 
stolen arms were secreted entered, and a general clubbing given to the 
lawless outside and in the building. The " Thirty-second " were active 
and gallant in this affair, and seemed to relish infantry duty after their 
uninterrupted duty as mounted police. Returning to headquarters, there 
was but a brief respite ere again, under Inspector Dilks, they marched to 
the same vicinity, engaged in another conflict, where their command was 
again conspicuous, and were parties to another victory. It was at this 
time that Capt. Helme's command was being hemmed in from all quar- 
ters, and its safety, bravely as his men would have fought, was largely 
due to the opportune arrival of Inspector Dilks. The hazardous return 
march, and the stubborn persistence of the mob in their assaults, have 
already been fully described. On reaching headquarters Capt. Wilson 
and his command were sent through the infected districts of the Eleventh 
and Seventeenth Wards, and on return reported to Inspector Leonard 
at the City Hall ; from here, aside of the day duties, were sent at night 
to the Western Hotel, and had a hand in the dispersion of the mob 
which had threatened it, several of the parties being cracked on the head 
somewhat severely ; thence to Cedar Street, and the Government Stores ; 
to the Twenty-seventh Precinct, and a march through it, and, 4 A. M. 
Wednesday, after nearly twenty -four hours of continuous march, interrupt- 
ed only to give battle, returned to the City Hall, and stretching out on the 
marble floor the members were allowed a brief rest. On Tuesday night 
the men had a short respite, and the Captain found them a gen- 
uine friend in Mr. Crook, of Chatham Street. On hearing that they 
had been nearly all day without food, he aroused his servants, opened 
his establishment, and had the force brought in, furnishing them with an 
excellent, substantial, and, of course, most welcome repast. They re- 
solved him to be a whole-souled man. 

On Wednesday, at 3 P. M., Capt. Wilson and his command were 
ordered to the First Precinct Station-house, and thence proceeded to 
Pier No. 4, North River, dispersing a crowd there ; subsequently the 
vicinity was patroled, and quiet entirely restored. Soon after, in conse- 
quence of apprehensions at Carmansville, they were ordered there. They 
arrived at Fort Washington by boat at 6^ P. M. The Captain at once 
took a force and started for Carmansville, where a large number of peo- 
ple were met, threatening mischief He used " moral suasion " with 
them in preference to the locust, as they did not appear to be of a very 
vicious class, and they soon dispersed. The force were kept together 
until Sunday A. M., but had no disturbances to subdue. 

Sergeant Flandreait was left in charge of the station-house, having 
under his command one officer, two doormen, and two hostlers. On Tues- 



100 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

day, when the force had left for Central Office, a number of ladies and gen- 
tlemen residing at Carmansville, Fort Washington, and Tubby Hook, came 
to the station, and expressed their fears in regard to the destruction of 
their dwellings ; the gentlemen offered their services. Sergeant Flan- 
DREAu allayed their apprehensions. At night he dispatched Patrolmaii 
Crosby and Doorman Malone on different reconnoitering duties, which 
they did most faithfully. Fresh horses were constantly kept on hand, 
and the few men at his disposal were actively scouting. When not doing 
this, they made a bold front at the station, demeaning themselves as- 
though the whole force were on hand, and could be brought at once into 
service. During the night a man living in the neighborhood, one of 
doubtful character, repeatedly reconnoitered the station, and was inquisi-' 
tive as to the number of men and the means of defence and offence. He 
received discreet answers and communicated them to a gang ready for 
arson and pillage, who thereupon skedaddled. On Wednesday, during 
the morning, the Sergeant was run down with the terrified residents of 
the vicinity ; he endeavored to allay their fears, told them how thoroughly 
the precinct had been patroled, but all in vain so far as a large number 
were concerned, who packed up their valuables and removed with their 
families to Westchester County. Confident of his own ability, with his 
few men and the volunteer force he could raise, to preserve order, yet 
the alarm and absquatulating induced the Sergeant to telegraph for Capt. 
Wilson and his force. Their return on Wednesday was the signal for a 
general jubilation. They arrived just in time to check the crowd at Car- 
mansville, above referred to. 

This force, although from the " rural districts," were most active in 
duty. They performed an immense amount of labor, were in some of 
the worst fights of the Riot Week, and exhibited an endurance, fidelity, 
and courage which covers them with credit. Capt. Wilson never sought 
for himself or men rest or respite ; and every one of the force, from Capt. 
Wilson down, were up to every requirement promptly and cheerfully. 
Sergeant Flandreau also won honor by his cool, discreet course, while 
left alone in the precinct, and which, undoubtedly, prevented demonstra- 
tions by the inhabitants so dreaded. 

The Sanitary Police. 

The Sanitary Police, Capt. B. G. Lord, Rooms Nos. 37 and 38 Cen- 
tral Office, have as their especial duties the reporting of all nuisances, ex- 
amination of tenement houses, and of unsafe buildings, the care of the 
Public Schools, but, more especially and important, the examination of 
steam boilers and the licensing of persons qualified to run steam-engines. 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 101 

This last it will be seen involves the intelligent and scientific examination 
of parties applicant, and, as a consequence, the force is composed in large 
proportion of scientific men. Their duties, although not constantly before 
the public, are of a most responsible character, and have been most com- 
petently performed. During " Riot Week" their ordinary routine was 
broken, and they were most valuable aids in the restoration of order. 

The Sanitary Company was called to the Central Office, on Monday 
afternoon, July 13 ; in the evening, with the force under Inspector Car- 
penter, proceeded to Printing-house Square, and also patroled through a 
portion of the Fourth Ward ; returning to Central Office, were in reserve 
during the balance of the night. 

On Tuesday morning Captain Lord and company proceeded to 
Prince and Crosby Streets and dispersed a large collection of rioters 
assembled with the intention of burning a colored church situated at that 
corner. On the return to Central Office, they were ordered to the fac- 
tory at Twenty-second Street and Second Avenue. The force sent on 
this expedition (which was the first attack made on the rioters at that 
point) numbered about two hundred regular policemen, under the com- 
mand of Inspector G. W. Dilks, who led them on through Twenty-first 
Street ; on arriving at the corner of Twenty -first Street and Second Av- 
enue, the order of double-quick was given, when the whole force charged 
up to and through the mob and on the building ; forced the doors, and 
fomid the stairs leading to the upper floors filled with rioters armed with 
carbines, which they used as clubs. A portion of the command were 
ordered to enter the building and get to the rear of the rioters, which was 
done after hard fighting, and as they were driven out they were com- 
pelled to run the gauntlet through the force outside, but few escaping. 
Each one of the command secured a carbine, and on the order being given 
to fall in, they returned to the Central Office. After the return, the San- 
itary Company were again dispatched under command of Inspector Car- 
penter, with Cajit. Lord as aid, accompanied by aboiit one hundred and 
fifty police and a detachment of military, to patrol the Seventeenth Ward. 
On their return officers McTaggart and Jaquins were detailed to accom- 
pany a detachment of police, under command of Capt. Bogart, and a 
company of Regulars under command of Capt. Franklin. This force 
proceeded in eleven stages, and the above-named officers were ordered to 
take charge of the drivers, many of whom had refused to drive through 
the crowds of rioters. The stages having stopped on the corner of Thir- 
tieth Street and Eighth Avenue, while the military and police proceeded 
down Twenty -ninth Street toward Tenth Avenue, the officers left in charge 
of them were in imminent danger of being attacked ; but they flinched 
not J and, on being ordered to take the stages over to the Fifth Avenue and 



102 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Twenty-ninth Street and await the coming of the police and military, they 
started on the perilous trip ; although attacked with stones and other mis- 
siles by the mob, they succeeded in reaching that point, and were joined 
by the force. 

The Sanitary Company were held at the Central Office until Wednes- 
day morning, when a portion of it, with the entire force of the Twelfth 
Precinct, accompanied by Capt. Franklin's Regulars, were ordered to 
Harlem, where there had been riotous demonstrations during the absence 
of the police. On Wednesday night they assisted in arresting a number 
of rioters who had assembled to fire the house of some colored people 
residing in One Hundred and Twenty-second Street. They patroled the 
precinct through the night. On Thursday morning officer James Mont- 
gomery, of the Sanitary, assisted by a portion of the Company then at 
Harlem, arrested a party charged with riot, arson and highway robbery. 
On the same morning a portion of the company arrested, in his place of 
business, a person accused of aiding and abetting the rioters, and inciting 
them to burn the house of Mr. Edgar Ketchum, collector of Internal 
Revenue for the Government. 

On Thursday night the Company, and members of the Twelfth Pre- 
cinct, patroled the precinct. On Friday they proceeded with some pris- 
oners, whom they had assisted in arresting at Mott Haven previously, 
and took them to Melrose, where they were committed to await their 
trial. The stable of Abraham Brown, City Marshal, on 124th Street, 
was fired on this day ; the force was promptly on the spot and the flames 
speedily extinguished. On Saturday evening the portion of the Sanitary 
Company at Harlem returned to the Central Office. 

On Wednesday afternoon, after a portion of his Company had been or- 
dered to Harlem, Capt. Lord, with the balance of the Sanitary Company 
and other force, was ordered to take charge of the Sixteenth Precinct. 
After his arrival, he deputized about one hundred and fifty citizens 
as special policemen, who, with the police under his command, patroled 
the precinct. During the command of Captain Lord in the Sixteenth 
Precinct, there were several attempts at arson, which were frustrated by 
the vigilance of the men, and only one fire occurred, which was immedi- 
ately extinguished by the Fire Department, aided by the force. On Sat- 
urday, after having returned to the Central Office, and his whole Company 
(the Sanitary) being again together, he was intrusted with the charge and 
protection of the Central Office, which duty the Company fulfilled day 
and night until Monday the 27th July. During the guard of the Central 
Office, officers Johns, Van Orden, and McTaggart, arrested three'persons 
charged with entering the house of Isaac Stephens (colored) and beating 
him. Officer McTaggart arrested a man charsed with assault on colored 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 103 

persons. Officers Coffee and Van Orden arrested three others for 
assault and battery on three soldiers stationed at the Central Office. 

On Monday, July 27, the Sanitary Company returned to their regu- 
lar duties. On Monday morning, July 13, about 10 A. M., officer Mc- 
Taggart was present at the riot and burning of the buildings on Third 
Avenue and Forty-sixth Street. There saw Superintendent Kennedy 
beaten by the mob, and assisted in his rescue from them. While Mr. 
Kennedy was being taken away, MoTaggart was struck with a stone in 
the back of his head, and also with a club on the shoulder. He aided in 
conveying the Superintendent to headquarters. On Monday afteftioon, 
as the same officer was in an office in West Thirty-ninth Street, he 
heard one of the persons present boast that he had taken a prominent part 
in the mobs' proceedings of the day, and that they intended to burn 
several slaughter-houses and Allerton's Hotel. The man also stated 
that he would put a ball through Henry Albohn, who has since died 
from the effects of a pistol-shot wound. The jury subsequently con- 
vened at the inquest charged this man with the murder of Albohn, and 
he was arrested by officer McTaggart, and committed for trial. 

This force, as will be noticed, performed miscellaneous and prolonged 
duty, "fleshed their locusts," and encountered perils in common with 
others of the Department. Capt. Lord, ever zealous and possessing 
moral courage which is infectious, incited his men, and was emulated 
by them, to a full performance of duty and the attaining of a most hon- 
orable name upon the " Record." 

DRILL-OFFICER T. S. COPELAND. 

Sergeant T. S. Copeland, whose services as drill-officer to the force 
have been of the utmost value, was one of the most efficient of the offi- 
cers during Riot Week. His first duty was organizing the command of 
Inspector Carpenter, which, on Monday afternoon, met the mob at 
Broadway and Amity Street, and he had the second blow in what was a 
gallant fight, and a quick and complete victory. It was here that the 
police, by their bravery, extorted from the citizens gathered at the spot, 
cheer on cheer of approval — something unusual for the force to hear 
given them, but which will be nothing novel hereafter. This mob was 
the one which had been doing so much damage in the upper part of the 
city, and they came down ladened with plunder. In the evening Sergeant 
Copeland formed another large command, which, under Inspector 
Carpenter, marched to the Park, and gave the rioters fleeing from 
Printing-house Square a reception such as they little expected, and 
largely suffered from. The Sergeant was here also amongst the most 



104 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

conspicuous and foremost. Thence he was on the march through the 
Fourth Ward. Here were witnessed shocking scenes ; the sacking of 
houses occupied by negroes, the piling up and burning of their furniture, 
the firing of their dwellings, and, in some cases, the actual burning 
alive of the inmates. In one instance a dwelling was fired where seven 
negroes had taken I'efuge ; they escaped by jumping from the windows, a 
distance of twenty feet ; one broke his leg, another his arm, and it was 
only by the prompt and decisive action of the police that any of them 
escaped death, the mob standing ready, like so many wolves, to jump 
uporr them the moment they reached the ground. In this march the 
various mobs were met and dispersed, the greater portion fleeing back 
into their dens. At midnight the force returned to the Park in time to 
receive the large mob coming down Broadway to finish the interrupted 
work at the Tribune Building. It was here that Inspector Carpenter 
exhibited strategy and generalship, massing his force at the east side of 
the Park, and, covered by the darkness, coolly awaiting the mob which 
came on, singing " We'll hang old Greeley to a sour apple tree," and 
rushed into the grasp of the force ere their presence was suspected. 
Exemplary, sudden, thorough was their punishment after ,the force 
sprang upon them. " Up, Guards, and at them," was the word ; the song 
ceased, and the ringing of the locusts and cries for mercy of the rene- 
gades supplied its place. Here, too, was Sergeant Copeland brave 
and efficient. Returning to headquarters, but a brief respite was had, 
for, at 2 A. M., Tuesday, Sergeant C. formed a battalion of 100 men, and 
proceeded to Ciarkson Street, to recover the body of the negro hung 
there. It was recovered and brought to the Central Office. On Tues 
day the Sergeant formed the battalion of police which, under In- 
spector Carpenter, visited Second Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, 
where the severe battle, heretofore described, was had. The force used 
their revolvers to clear the tops of the houses of their assailants, but ul- 
timately had to charge the houses, take and " clean " them. The rioters 
most of them boldly met the assault, others were found secreted in beds, 
boxes, closets, &c., &;c., but were hunted out, receiving lessons which 
those of them who can remember anything, are not likely to forget. The 
force returned to headquarters at noon, and during the balance of the 
day the military knowledge of the Sergeant was in constant requisition 
in the organizing of the different commands constantly being required 
and sent off; In the evening he was with the command which, under 
Inspector Carpenter, marched to Brooks Brothers' clothing store, and 
subsequently through the infected districts thereabouts, dispersing all 
mobs and administering, on several occasions, severe punishment ; thence 
to the Fifth Ward, where valuable service was done and quiet restored, 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 105 

and thence to headquarters. During the bahiuce of the week, until 
Saturday, Sergeant Copeland was occupied in organizing companies, as 
they were required, for special service. 

In hastily giving a record of the duties and doings of this officer we 
have omitted many instances connected therewith, but which have been 
given in connection with the record of divers precincts. Plis con- 
duct had elicited the hearty encomiums of his superior officers and 
he was not only valuable because of his military knowledge and the 
promptness and ability with which he formed commands, but also as 
a cool, gallant, and faithful officer. 



The Honorable Record would be incomplete without reference to three 
gentlemen — Daniel B. Hasbrouck, First Deputy Clerk ; George Hop- 
craft, Clerk to Superintendent ; and Horace A. Bliss, Clerk to In- 
spectors. The two former, during Riot Week, were occupied day and 
night, unceasingly, in the performance of varied duties, neither of them 
making note of hours or weariness, but lending their whole time and 
energies to the intelligent and valuable services they were called upon 
to perform. When the immense amount of business centralizing at head- 
quarters, and the responsible character of what devolved on them to do, 
is remembered, that they were the right men in the right places will be 
promptly and cheerfully conceded. Mr. Bliss was temporarily absent 
at the burial of a brother, but returned in time to make available to the 
department the intelligence and energy which he is so well known to 
possess. 

Alexander Stewart, Messenger to the Inspectors, was among the 
faithful and unwearying during the period of unceasing work and ex- 
citement. 



The Brooklyn Precincts. 

There are ten Precincts in Brooklyn. The force is a portion of the 
the Metropolitan Police. Its movements in this city on the first day of 
the riots is detailed in the Record of its own Chief officer, Inspector Folk, 
herein given, as are also the valuable duties subsequently performed in 
Brooklyn. That city owes its exemption to the constant vigilance of the 
force, its intelligent and courageous action. 



106 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Conclnsion. 

In concluding the " Honorable Record " of the Metropolitan Police, 
it can be reiterated that the safety of the city, its exemption from unpre- 
cedented scenes of murder, arson, and pillage was first due to the force. It 
should be borne in mind that of the 2,000 men composing it, the Commis- 
sioners at no one time could avail themselves of over 800, and on Mon- 
ilay of the outbreak of not more than half that number. The balance, 
on reporting at headquarters, were sent in detachments to all sections of 
the city ; and to some precincts it was found necessary not only to return 
its force but to strengthen them with others ; nor were the 800 available 
in a body, for they were being constantly sent off under different com- 
mands to attack mobs in diverse sections of the city. The largest num- 
ber in one command was 350. 

It is a noticeable fact that, in every engagement where the police were 
in force, they were victorious ; it mattered not how many they had to 
meet or how they had to meet them — whether in the streets or in houses, 
or in both at once ; on all occasions they were entirely successful. This 
result is due to what very many citizens have considered an unnecessary 
regulation of the Department, and which many of the force have objected 
to as onerous, annoying and useless. We refer to the drilling and dis- 
ciplining of the men, which has been an imperative rule. Its wisdom 
and necessity received a triumphant confirmation from the very outset of 
the riots ; for, in their steady discipline, prompt military movements and 
obedience to command, was the strength and safety of the force. Acting 
together, moving as one man, they, numerically weak, overcame odds 
counting by thousands. This discipline is mainly due to General James 
Bo WEN, who, as one of the Commissioners, early saw its necessity and 
devoted himself to its enforcement. Gen. Bowen was in New Orleans 
during the riots, but has had the gratification of hearing that what he 
initiated has been valuably perfected. 

The conduct of the force exceeded the expectations of Commissioners 
Acton and Bergen. They did expect much from them, but their readi- 
ness and willingness on all occasions and at all hours, their uncomplain- 
ing response to every call, their cheerful endurance of fatigue, and a gal- 
lantry which knew no hesitancy, are subjects of their enthusiastic pride 
and encomiums. 

In testimony of the invaluable services of the police have been scores 
of complimentary letters from prominent sources. As one of the hand- 
somest acknowledgments, because from one who had full opportunity of 
judging, is the following from Brig.-Gen. Harvey Brown. He was 
in command of the military from Tuesday until Saturday of Riot 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 107 

Week. It is a manly, frank, and generous acknowledgment from a gallant 
and accomplished officer. The extract is from a letter in response to one 
from a large number of prominent citizens complimentary to the judg- 
ment and energy displayed and the great services rendered by the Gen- 
eral during the crisis : 

Fort Hamilton, August 6, 1863. 

To Shepherd Knapp, George Opdyke, Leonard W. Jerome, Moses Taylor, 
JSsqs., and others : 

Gentlemen : I beg you to accept my grateful thanks for the kind and 
flattering letter with which you have honored me. 

The only merit I can claim, in the performance of the duty which 
has given me the high distinction of your approbation, is that of an honest 
singleness of purpose in seconding the very able and energetic efforts of 
the President of the Metropolitan Police, Mr. Acton, to whom, in my 
opinion, more than to any other one man is due the credit of the early sup- 
pression of the riot. 

I never for a moment forgot that to the police was confided the 
conservation of the peace of the City ; and that only in conjunction 
with the city authorities, and on their requisition, could the United 
States forces be lawfully and properly employed in suppressing the riot, 
and in restoring that peace and good order which had been so lawlessly 
broken. Acting in accordance with this principle, and as aids to the gal- 
lant City Police, the officers and soldiers of my command performed the 
most unpleasant and arduous duty, with that prompt energy and fearless 
patriotism w^hich may ever be expected from the soldiers of the Republic. 

On the week after the riot the Board of Police Commissioners issued 
the following Address to the force, in which a well-earned tribute is paid 
to the Military. 

To the Metropolitan Police Force. 

On the morning of Monday, the 13th inst., the peace and good order 
of the city was broken by a mob collected in several quarters of the city, 
for the avowed purpose of resisting the process of drafting names to re- 
cruit the armies of the Union. 

Vast crowds of men collected and fired the offices where drafting was 
in progress, beating and driving the officers from duty. 

From the beginning, these violent proceedings were accompanied by 
arson, robbery, and murder. 

Private property, unofficial persons of all ages, sexes, and conditions, 
were indiscriminately assailed — none were spared, except those who "vvere 
supposed by the mob to sympathize with their proceedings. 

Early in the day the Superintendent was assaulted, cruelly beaten, 
robbed and disabled by the mob which was engaged in burning the Pro- 
vost Marshal's office in Third Avenue, thus in a manner disarranging the 
organization at the Central Department, throwing new, unwonted, and 
responsible duties upon the Board. 

At this juncture the telegraph wires of the department were cut, and 



108 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

the movement of forces by the railroads and stages violently interrupted, 
interfering seriously with -our accustomed means of transmitting orders 
and concentrating forces. 

The militia of the city were absent at the seat of war, fighting the bat- 
tles of the nation against treason and secession, and there was no adequate 
force in the city for the first twelve hours to resist at all points the vast 
and infuriated mob. The police force was not strong enough in any pre- 
cinct to make head, unaided, against the overwhelming force. No course 
was left but to concentrate the whole force at the Central Department, 
and thence send detachments able to encounter and conquer the rioters. 
This course was promptly adopted on Monday morning. The military 
were called upon to act in aid of the civil force to subdue the treasonable 
mob, pi'Otect life and property, and restore public order. 

Under such adverse circumstances you were called upon to encounter 
a, mob of such strength as have never before been seen in this country. 
The force of militia under General Sandford, who were called into service 
by the authority of this Board, were concentrated by him at and held the 
Arsenal in Seventh Avenue, throughout the contest. The military forces 
in command of Brevet Brigadier-General Harvey Brown reported at the 
Central Department, and there General Brown established his head-quai*- 
ters, and from there expeditions, combined of police and military force, 
were sent out that in all cases conquered, defeated or dispersed the mob 
force, and subjected them to severe chastisement. In no instance did 
these detachments from the Central Department, whether of police alone, 
or police and military combined, meet with defeat or serious check. 

In all cases they achieved prompt and decisive victories. The contest 
continued through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and till 11 
o'clock on Thursday night, like a continuous battle, when it ended by a 
total and sanguinary route of the insurgents. 

During the whole of those anxious days and nights, Brig.-Gen. Brown 
remained at the Central Department, ordering the movements of the mili- 
tary in carefully considered combinations with the police force, and 
throughout the struffgle, and until its close, commanded the admiration 
and gratitude of the Police Department and all who witnessed his firm 
intelligence and soldierly conduct. 

It is understood that he had at no time under his immediate command 
more than three hundred troops, but they were of the highest order, and 
were commanded by officers of courage and ability. They cordially 
acted with, supported, and were supported by the police, and victory in 
every contest against fearful odds was the result of brave fighting and 
intelligent command. 

In the judgment of this Board, the escape of the city from the power 
of an infuriated mob is due to the aid furnished the police by Brig.-Gen. 
Brown and the small military force under his command. No one can 
doubt, who saw him as we did, that during those anxious and eventful 
days and nights Brig.-Gen. Harvey Brown was equal to the situation, 
and was the right man in the right place. 

We avail ourselves of this occasion to tender to him in the most earnest 
and public manner the thanks of the department and our own. 

To the soldiers under his command we are grateful as to brave men 
who periled all to save the city from a reign of terror. To Captains Put- 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. 109 

NAM, Franklin and Shelly, Lieut, Ryer and Lieut.-Col. Bekens officers 
of corps under the command of Brig.-Gen. Brown, we are especially in- 
debted, and we only discharge a duty when we commend them to their 
superiors in rank and to the War Department for their coura^reous and 
effective service. 

Of the Inspectors, Captains, and Sergeants of police who led parties in 
the fearful contest, we are proud to say that none faltered or failed. Each 
was equal to the hour and the emergency. Not one failed to overcome 
the danger, however imminent, or to defeat the enemy, however numer- 
ous. Especial commendation is due to Drill-Sergeant Copeland for his 
most valuable aid in commanding the movements of larger detachments 
of the police. 

The patrolmen who were on duty fought through the numerous and 
fierce conflicts with the steady courage of veteran soldiers, and have won 
as they deserve, the highest commendations from the public and from 
this Board. In their ranks there was neither faltering nor straggling. 
Devotion to duty and courage in the performance of it were universal. 

The public and the department owe a debt of gratitude to the citizens 
who voluntarily became special patrolmen, some three thousand of whom 
for several days and nights, did regular patrolman's duty with great effect. 

In the name of the public and of the department in which they were 
volunteers we thank them. 

Mr. Crowley, the Superintendent of the police telegraph, and the 
attaches of his department, by untiring and sleepless vigilance in trans- 
mitting information by telegraph unceasingly through more than ten 
days and nights, have more than sustained the high reputation they have 
always possessed. 

Through all these bloody contests, through all the wearing fatigue and 
wasting labor, you have demeaned yourselves like worthy members of 
the Metropolitan Police. 

The public judgment will commend and reward you. A kind Provi- 
dence has permitted you to escape with less casualties than could have 
been expected. You have lost one comrade, whom you have buried with 
honor. Your wounded will, it is hoped, all recover, to join you and share 
your honors. It is hoped that the severe, but just, chastisement which 
has been inflicted upon those guilty of riot, pillage, arson and murder, will 
deter further attempts of that character. But if, arising out of political 
or other causes, there should be another attempt to interrupt public order, 
we shall call on you again to crush its authors, confident that you will 
respond like brave men, as you ever have, to the calls of duty ; and in 
future, whenever the attempt may be made, you will have to aid you large 
forces of military, ably commanded, and thus be enabled to crush in the 
bud any attempted riot or revolution. 

To General Canby, who, on the morning of Friday, the 17th inst., took 
command of the military, relieving Brig.-Gen. Brown, and to Gen. Dix, 
who succeeded Gen. Wool, the public are indebted for prompt, vigorous 
and wnlling aid to the police force in all the expeditions which have been 
called for since they assumed their commands. Charged particularly with 
the protection of the immense amount of Federal property and interests 
in the Metropolitan district, and the police force charged with the main- 
tenance of public order, the duties of the two forces are always coincident. 



110 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

Whatever menaces or disturbs one equally menaces and disturbs the 
other. 

We are happy to know that at all times the several authorities haA^e 
co-operated with that concert and harmony which is necessary to secure 
vigor and efficiency in action. 

Sergeant Young of the detective force, aided by Mr. Newcomb and 
other special patrolmen, rendered most effective service in arranging the 
commissary supplies for the large number of police, military, special 
patrolmen, and destitute colored refugees, whose subsistence was thrown 
unexpectedly on the department. The duty was arduous and responsible, 
and was j^erformed with vigor and fidelity. All the clerks of the depart- 
ment, each in his sphere, performed a manly share of the heavy duties 
growing out of these extraordinary circumstances. The Central Depart- 
ment became a home of refuge for large numbers of poor, persecuted 
colored men, women, and children, many of whom were wounded and 
sick, and all of whom were helpless, exposed, and poor. Mr. John H. 
Keyser, with his accustomed philanthropy, volunteered, and was appointed 
to superintend these wretched victims of violence and prejudice, and has 
devoted unwearied days to the duty. The pitiable condition of these 
poor people appeals in the strongest terms to the Christian charity of the 
benevolent and humane. The members of the force will do an accepta- 
ble service by calling the attention to their condition of those who are 
able and willing to contribute in charity to their relief. 

On the 10th of August, the Inspectors, after receipt of the i-eports 
from the different Captains, submitted the following to the Police Com- 
missioners, with which the " Record" will close. 

Office of Inspectors, ) 
New York, August 10th, 1863. f 
John A. Kennedy, Esq., Superintendent: 

Sir, — The undersigned respectfully beg leave to submit the repoi'ts 
of the several Captains of the Metropolitan Police who were in command 
of precincts within the City of New York during the memorable Week 
of Riot, viz. : from July 13th to July 18th, both inclusive. Also, reports 
of several Sergeants, comprising a detailed account of the duty performed 
by their respective commands during the same week ; one by Sergeant 
Brackett of the Twenty-first Precinct, who, by the order of President 
Acton, had command of that precinct from the morning of the 16th 
of July, Captain Palmer having reported sick on the afternoon of the 
preceding day ; others who had separate commands requiring a separate 
report. 

The repoi'ts of the Captains and Sergeants are so elaborate and full 
in detail that the undersigned do not deem it necessary to make separate 
reports. 

Each report is a truthful record of the arduous duties most cheer- 
fully and heroically performed by their commands, and in the aggregate 
will form a most creditable and honorable epoch in the history of the 
Metropolitan Police. 

The undersigned take this occasion to tender their sincere thanks 



DURING THE RIOT WEEK, JULY, 1863. Ill 

to the Captains, Sergeants, and Patrolmen of the Metropolitan Police 
for the fiiithful manner in which they performed the most trying duty 
that was ever performed by any police force in this country, and was 
probably never excelled by the police force of any city in the world. We 
cannot, in a report of this kind point out single instances of bravery, cool- 
ness and endurance, where it was shown so universally : And besides 
while single instances came under our immediate observation which would 
be in consonance with our feelings to refer to them, yet we fear would 
be doing injustice to others equally entitled to receive the same meed of 
praise. We were placed in a position where the whole field had to be 
looked over, hence we refer you to the reports alluded to, and where in 
many instances special mention is made of meritorious conduct. 

Two of the undersigned, however (viz. : Inspectors Carpenter and 
DiLKS — Inspector Leonard, having command of the force at the City Hall 
^did not have the oppoi'tunity of witnessing what we did) cannot injustice 
pass unnoticed the taithful and valuable services of Drill-Instructor Ser- 
geant T. S; Copeland. He was with us at the Central Office from the 
commencement to the termination of the riot, and greatly facilitated us in 
forming battalions to send to meet the mob. He accompanied one of the 
undersigned (Inspector Carpenter) in all the attacks he made upon the 
rioters, and in which he displayed great coolness and courage, beino- 
always in advance, and demonstrated the excellent state of discipline he 
had drilled the force up to. 

In closing, the undersigned wish to state that in all eases where they 
were ordered to proceed with large bodies of the force to meet and repel 
the mob, whether accompanied with military or not, the officers and men 
performed their whole duty, far exceeding our most sanguine expectations. 

The undersigned cannot close this brief report without calling your 
particular attention to this significant fact, that out of a body of a little 
over two thousand men that comprise this force but few, very few, in 
any manner shrank from their trying duties. This, we think, will stand 
out as a most honorable mark of distinction for the membei-s of the 
Metropolitan Police. 

DANIEL CARPENTER, ) 

GEO. W. DILKS, [ Inspectors. 

JAS. LEONARD. ) 

Note. — The Captains of the several precincts made full and interesting reports to the Commis- 
sioners of the duties performed, during Riot Week, by their several commands. These reports have 
been referred to for the purposes of this compilation, and have been of great value in perfecting it. 



112 SERVICES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 

THE COURT, JURIES, AND PROSECUTING OFFICERS. 

Reference to the course of Recorder Hoffman, the Grand and Petit 
Juries, and the Prosecuting officers, on the indictment and trial of rioters, 
at the August Term of the Court of General Sessions — the only Court 
in session to the date of this publication at which the Riot cases could be 
tried — forms an appropriate sequel to the " Record." 

The Court met on Monday, August 3d, and on the following day Re- 
corder Hoffman delivered his charge. It was eloquent and earnest ; he 
used no modifying language in speaking of the crimes which had been 
committed ; no shady words in chai*acterizing the criminals. Those who 
burn asylums, dwellings, stores, are guilty of arson ; those who plunder 
are thieves ; a rioter is an enemy of society, and the punishment due a mur- 
derer is death. To each and all of these classes the penalty which the 
law affixes, would, he said, be sternly meted out. In calling the atten- 
tion of the Grand Jury to the riots, and urging them to a thorough, fear- 
less examination of all cases of participation brought before them, the 
Recorder used the following language : 

" We stand here, to-day, not as individuals, but as public officers 
charged with grave responsibilities. Let us not shrink from them. Let 
us remember that we are not partisans, but sworn officers of the law, de- 
termined at all hazards to enforce law and preserve order, to protect the 
innocent and punish the guilty." 

The Grand Jury entered upon their laborious duties with the same 
spirit which characterized the charge, and performed them fearlessly and 
faithfully. 

The District Attorney and his associates, Samuel B. Garvin, in Court, 
and Orlando L. Stewart, conducted the prosecutions, and urged them 
to success with unwearying energy and zeal. Of the twenty persons 
tried on charge of being concerned in the riots, nineteen were convicted. 

The Petit Juries participated in the determination pervading the 
officials of the Court to thoroughly discharge their duty, and, by their un- 
hesitating action and just findings, relieved the Jury Box of the imputa- 
tions so often made against it. 

Recorder Hoffman was stern and inflexible in his sentences. The 
aggregate time of imprisonment for the rioters sentenced at this term, 
which continued but ten days, was nearly one hundred years. 

The action of this Court has satisfied the lawless that for them there 
is no more license, and has done more to encourage the police, to strengthen 
them in the discharge of their duty, than even the approval and laudations 
which have been showered upon them. It has also renewed the confi- 
dence of the community, and assured them that for crime there is pun- 
ishment, and for criminals its certainty. 



APPENDIX. 



The following are some of the most atrocious cases of murder perpe- 
trated by the rioters. The facts relating to some of the colored victims 
are condensed from the interesting Report of the Secretary of the Mer- 
chant's Relief Committee : 

MURDER OF COL. O'BRIEN. 

The murder of Col. H. J. O'Brien, by the mob, on the afternoon of 
Tuesday of Riot Week, was characterized by appalling barbarities. 
After the battle between the police under Inspector Carpentkr, in the 
Second Avenue, and after the police had left. Col. O'Brien, in command 
of two companies, 11th Regiment, N. Y. Vols., arrived at Thirty-fourth 
Street and Second Avenue. The rioters had reassembled, a collision en- 
sued, and the military opened fire. The mob dispersed, and Col. O'Brien, 
leaving his command, walked up the avenue a short distance, entering a 
drug store. Returning to the street in a few moments, he was instantly 
surrounded by a vengeful and relentless crowd, which had re-collected, at 
once knocked down, beaten and mutilated shockingly till insensible. He 
thus lay for upwards of an hour, breathing heavily, and on any move- 
ment receiving kicks and stones. He was then taken by the heels, dragged 
around the street, and again left lying in it. For some four hours did 
he thus lay, subjected to infamous outrages, among them the occasional 
thrusting of a stick down his throat when gasping for breath. No one 
who did not seek to feed his brutality upon him was allowed to approach 
him. One man who sought to give him a drop of water was instantly 
set upon and barely escaped M^ith his lite. While still breathing, he was 
taken into the yard of his own house, near the scene, and there the most 
revolting atrocities were perpetrated, underneath which the life, that 
had so tenaciously clung to him, fled. No one could have recognized his 
j-emains. The murderers, satiated with their excess of fiendishness, left, 
and the body was allowed to be removed to Bellevuc Hospital. 

COLORED VICTIMS OF THE RIOT. 

Wm. Henry Nichols (colored). Nichols resided at No. 147 East 
Twenty -eighth St. Mrs. Staat, his mother, Avas visiting him. On Wednes- 
day, July 15th, at 3 o'clock, the house was attacked by a mob with showers 
of "bricks and stones. In one of the rooms was a woman with a child but 

8 



114 APPENDIX. 

three days old. The rioters broke open the door with axes and rushed 
in. Nichols and his mother fled to the basement ; in a few moments the 
babe referred to was dashed by the rioters from the upper window into 
the yard, and instantly killed. The mob cut the water pipes above, and 
the basement was being deluged ; ten persons, mostly women and children, 
were there, and they fled to the yard; in attempting to climb the fence 
Mrs. Staats fell back from exhaustion ; the rioters were instantly upon 
her ; her son sprang to her rescue, exclaiming, " Save my mother, if you 
kill me." Two ruffians instantly seized him, each taking hold of an. arm, 
while a third, armed with a crow-bar, calling upon them to hold his arms 
apart, deliberately struck him a savage blow on the head, felling him like 
a bullock. He died in the N. Y. Hospital two days after. 

James Costello (col'd). — Jamks Costello, No. 97 West Thirty-third 
Street, killed on Tuesday morning, July 14th. Costello was a shoe- 
maker, an active man in his business, industrious and sober. He went out 
early in the morning upon an errand, was accosted, and finally was pui'- 
sued by a powerful man. He ran down the street ; endeavored to make 
his escape ; was nearly overtaken by his pursuer ; in self-defence he 
turned and shot the rioter with a revolver. The shot proved to be mor- 
tal ; he died two days after. Costello was immediately set upon by the 
moi). They first mangled his body, then hanged it. They then cut down 
his body and dragged it through the gutters, smashing it with stones, and 
finally burnt it. The mob then attempted to kill Mrs. Costello and her 
children, but she escaped by climbing fences and taking refuge in a police 
station-house. 

Abraham Franklin (colored). — This young man, who was murdered 
by the mob on the corner of Twenty-seventh Street and Seventh Avenue, 
was a quiet, inoffensive man, of unexceptionable character. He was a 
cripple, but supported himself and his mother, being employed as a 
coachman. A short time previous to the assault, he called upon his 
mother to see if anything could be done by him for her safety. The old 
lady said she considered herself perfectly safe ; but if her time to die had 
come, she was ready to die. Her son then knelt down by her side, and 
implored the protection of Heaven in behalf of his mother. The old 
lady said that it seemed to her that good angels were present in the 
room. Scarcely had the supplicant risen from his knees, when the mob 
broke down the door, seized him, beat him over the head and fixce with 
fists and clubs, and then hanged him in the presence of his parent. 
While they were thus engaged the military came and drove them away, 
cutting down the body of Franklin, who raised his arm once slightly and 
gave a few signs of life. The military then moved on to quell other 
riots, when the mob returned and again suspended the now probably 
lifeless body of Franklin, cutting out pieces of flesh, and otherwise shock- 
ingly mutilating it. 

Augustus Stuart (colored). — Died at Hospital, Blackwell's Island, 
July 22, from the effects of a blow received at the hands of the mob, on 
Wednesday evening of Riot Week. He had been badly beateii previously 
by a band of rioters, and was frightened and insane from the effects of the 
blows which he had received. He was running toward the Arsenal 



APPENDIX. ^ ll5 

(State), Seventh Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street, for safety, when he 
was overtaken by the mob, from whom he received his death blow. 

Peter Heuston. — Peter Heuston, sixty-three years of age, a Mohawk 
Indian, dark complexion, but straight hair, and for several years a resident 
of New York, proved a victim to the riots. Heuston served with the 
New York Volunteers in the Mexican war. He was brutally attacked 
and shockingly beaten, on the 13th of July, by a gang of ruffians, who 
thought him to be of the African race because of his dark complexion. 
He died within four days, at Bellevue Hospital, from his injuries. 

Jeremiah Robinson (colored). — He was killed in Madison near 
Catharine Street. His widow stated that her husband, in order to es- 
cape, dressed himself in some of her clothes, and, in company with her- 
self and one other woman, left their residence and went toward one of 
the Brooklyn ferries. Robinson wore a hood, which failed to hide his 
beard. Some boys, seeing his beard, lifted up the skirts of his dress, 
which exposed his heavy boots. Immediately the mob set upon him, 
and the atrocities they perpetrated are so revolting that they are unfit 
for publication. They finally killed him, and threw his body into the 
river. His wife and her companion ran up Madison street, and escaped 
across the Grand Street Ferry to Brooklyn. 

William Jones (colored). — A crowd of rioters in Clarkson Street, 
in pursuit of a negro, who in self-defence had fired on some rowdies, met 
an inoffensive colored man returning from a bakery with a loaf of bread 
under his arm. They instantly set upon and beat him and, after nearly 
killing him, hung him to a lamp-post. His body was left suspended 
for several hours. A fire was made underneath him, and he was literally 
roasted as he hung, the mob reveling in their demoniac act. Recog- 
nition of the remains, on their being recovered, was impossible ; and two 
women mourned for upwards of two weeks, in the case of this man, for 
the loss of their husbands. At the end of that time, the husband of ojie 
of the mourners, to her great joy, returned like one recovered from the 
grave. The principal evidence which the widow, Mary Jones, had to 
identify the murdered man as her husband, was the fact of his having a 
loaf of bread under his arm, he having left the house to get a loaf of 
bread a few minutes before the. attack. 

Joseph Reed (colored). — This was a lad of seven years of age, re- 
siding at No. 147 East Twenty-eighth Street, with an aged grandmother 
and widowed mother. On Wednesday morning of the fearful week, a 
crowd of ruffians gathered in the neighborhood, determined on a work of 
plunder and death. They attacked the house, stole everything they could 
carry with them, and, after threatening the inmates, set fire to it. The 
colored people, who had the sole occupancy of the building, fled in con- 
fusion into the midst of the gathering crowd. And then the child was 
separated from his guardians. His youth and evident illness, even from 
the devils around him, it would he thought, should have insured his 
safety. But no sooner did they see his unprotected, defenceless condition, 
than a gang of fiendish men seized him, beat him with sticks, and 
bruised him with heavy cobble-stones. But one, ten-fold more the servant 



116 APPENDIX. 

of Satan than the rest, rushed at the child, and with the stock of a pistol 
struck him on the temple and felled him to the ground. A noble young 
fireman, by the name of John Y. Govern, of No. 39 Hose Company, in- 
stantly came to the rescue, and, single-handed, held the crowd at bay. 
Taking the wounded and unconscious boy in his arms, he carried him to 
a place of safety. The terrible beating and the great fright the poor lad 
had undergone Mas too much for his feeble frame ; he died on the follow- 
ing Tuesday. 

Joseph Jackson (colored), aged 19 years, living in West Fifty-third 
Street, near Sixth Avenue, was in the industrious pursuit of his humble 
occupation of gathering provender for a herd of cattle, and when near 
the foot of Thirty-fourth Street, East River, July 15, was set upon by 
the mob, killed, and his body thrown into the river. 

Samuel Johnson (colored). — On Tuesday night Johnson was attacked 
near Fulton Ferry by a gang who mercilessly beat and left him for dead. 
A proposition was made to throw him into the river, but for some 
reason the murderers took fright and fled. He was taken by some citi- 
zens to his home, and died the next day. 

Williams (colored). — He was attacked on the corner of Le Roy 

and Washington Streets, on Tuesday morning, July 14th, knocked down, 
a number of men jumped upon, kicked, and stamped upon him until in- 
sensible. One of the murderers knelt on the body and drove a knife 
into it ; the blade being too small he threw it away and resorted to his 
fists. Another seized a huge stone, weighing near twenty pounds, and 
deliberately crushed it again and again on to the victim, A force of 
police, under CajDtain Dickson, arrived and rescued the man, who was con- 
veyed to the New York Hospital. He was only able to articulate 
" Williams " in response to a question as to his name, and remained in- 
sensible thereafter, dying in a few days. 

• Ann Derrickson. — This was a white "woman, the wife of a colored 
man, and lived at No. 11 York Street. On Wednesday, July 15th, the 
rioters seized a son of deceased, a lad of about twelve years, saturated 
his clothes and hair with camphene, and then procuring a rope, 
fastened one end to a lamp-post, the other around his neck, and were 
about to set him on fire, and hang him ; they were interfered with 
by some citizens and by the police of the First Ward, and their diaboli- 
cal attempt at murder frustrated. AVhile Mrs. Derrickson was at- 
tempting to save the life of her son she was hoiTibly bruised and beaten 
with a cart rung. The victim, after lingering three or four weeks, died 
from the effects of her injuries. 



APPENDIX. 117 

BURNING OF THE COLORED ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

About 4 o'clock on the. afternoon of Monday, July 13th, a nioh of 
some three thousand attacked the Asylum for Colored Orphans on Fifth 
Avenue. The main building was four stories, with wings of three sto- 
ries, and was capable of accommodating five hundred children. With 
the grounds, it extended from Forty-third to Forty-lourth Street. At 
the time the mob came upon it, there were, besides the officers and mat- 
rons, over two hundred children in it, from infancy to twelve years of 
age. Superintendent Wm. E. Davis hurriedly fastened the doors, and 
while the mob were breaking them in the children were collected,nand 
then escaped by the rear just as the ruffians had effiicted their entrance 
in front. Those entering at once proceeded to ransack and pillage every 
room in the building. Everything that could be w^as stolen, even to 
the dresses and trinkets of the orphans. What could not be carried off 
was destroyed. Meantime Chief Engineer Decker reached the scene, 
and forced his way to the building. In attempting to address the mob, 
he was twice knocked down and finally forced into Fifth Avenue. Here 
some ten firemen joined him, and it was resolved to save the Asylum if 
possible. They boldly forced their way to and into the building. Here 
they w^ere joined by Assistant Engineers Lamb and Lewis. The chairs, 
desks, &c., had been broken u]>, piled in different parts of the building, 
and fires had been kindled on the first and second floors. The firemen 
scattered and extinguished all of them, and intimidated the rioters. 
Meanwhile some of the latter had succeeded in effectually firing the loft 
in every part ; the demonstration against the chief and his small band 
of associates had become too formidable; to save the building was im- 
possible, and they reluctantly yielded it to the mob, who, with exulting 
yells, soon saw the Asylum wrapped in flames. In an hour and a half 
only a small portion of the walls remained. 

The firemen who acted so gallantly with the Chief and his Assistants 
were members of Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, Hose Company 
No. 31, Engine Companies Nos. 7, 9, and 10. 

After their escape from the building, the Orphans were hurried in 
mournful procession to the Twentieth Precinct, Captain Walling, where 
they were sheltered and provided for until their removal to Blackwell's 
Island. Except the clothes they wore, not an article was saved for them. 
The loss to the Society in building, furniture, and clothing was estimated 
at $80,000. 



INDEX. 



PAGE 



Commissioners "^ 

Chief Clerk 9 

Superintendent ^ 

Inspectors 1-2,17,20,23 

Telegraph Bureau 2^' 

Detective Force -^ 

First Pi-ecinct ^^ 

Second Precinct ^^ 

Third Precinct ^6 

Fourth Precinct ^^ 

Fifth Precinct 40 

Sixth Precinct ^^ 

Seventh Precinct '** 

Eighth Precinct *^ 

Ninth Precinct ^^ 

Tenth Precinct ^^ 

Eleventh Precinct ^P 

Twelfth Precinct ^'^ 

Thirteenth Precinct ^f 

Fourteenth Precinct "^ 

Fifteenth Precinct ^/ 

Sixteenth Precinct y^ 

Seventeenth Precinct , n ^' 

Eighteenth Precmct zt 

Nineteenth Precinct ^^ 

Twentieth Precinct ^° 

Twenty -first Precinct ' 

Twenty-second Precinct ^* 

Twenty -third Precinct J; 

Twenty-fourth Precinct ' ^ 

Twenty-fifth Precinct V^ 

Twenty-sixth Precinct °l 

Twentj^-seventh Precinct ^ 

Twenty-eighth Precinct ^^ 

Twentj^ -ninth Precinct 



Thirtieth Precinct. 



93 
90 



Thirty-first Precinct ^^ 

Thirtj-second Precinct 

Sanitary Police „ „ 

Drill Officer \*Z 

Superintendent aud Inspectors' Offices !-~z 

Brooklyn Precincts ^ 

Brig.-Gen. Harvey Brown u ' Vf -i- am 

Commissioners' Address to Force, and acknowledgment to the Military i"^W 

Inspectors' Report ,^ 

Court, Juries, and Prosecuting Oflicers " 

The Murders \\t 

Burning of the Colored Orphan Asylum ^ ^ ' 



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k*-... OCT . 68 
C^ N. MANCHESTER. 
,^r^^ INHIANA 






T 68 %. *^,^' A <. '<"* 

/lANCHESTER. . ^^s;r<^^ * ' o aJ'*' *''^/r?9^-' %r 

INDIANA ^ . ^^X^^" .. Jl^ ^m/^0^ • ^. .I 



